Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Herbert caught Jessica in his arms just in time.

Her skin was icy cold, her face ghostly pale, and sweat beaded on her forehead.

She'd started vomiting a reaction to the sight of all that blood.

Moving quickly, Herbert laid her gently on the ground, then lifted her legs at a forty-five-degree angle, supporting her ankles in his hands.

A few minutes later, Jessica's eyes fluttered open, but she was so weak she could barely move.

Herbert lowered her legs and helped her sit up against the wall. Jessica tried to glance toward Timothy, but Herbert swiftly covered her eyes with his hand. "Don't look," he said softly. "You faint at the sight of blood. If you go into shock, it could be dangerous."

Just then, the distant wail of the ambulance siren reached Jessica's ears, and the tension in her chest eased a little.

"Okay," she whispered, "I won't look."

In what felt like no time at all, the ambulance arrived. Paramedics rushed Timothy onto a stretcher, and Herbert scooped Jessica up and climbed in after them.

He asked the medics for an ice pack and pressed it to Jessica's forehead, shielding her from the sight of Timothy's wound, blocking her view with his own body.

On the other side of the ambulance, paramedics scrambled to save Timothy.

"Heart rate dropping!"

"Quick, stop the bleeding!"

A medic turned to them. "Family member-what's his blood type?"

Jessica managed a weak reply: "O."

"Start a transfusion, now!"

rate's still

listened to the frantic voices and the desperate rhythm of

felt foggy

want

not." Herbert's tone was firm, but there was worry in his eyes. “Don't blame me for being harsh. You really can't look, or we'll end up having to save you

want to

accident, he was chasing after her- Vince had told her. Her heart ached at

back had been covered in wounds

injuries? She was sure he had them. Why else would he be coughing up so

beam had struck Timothy's head, splitting the skin

a tremendous force could

chest tightened with

leave him. To spend whatever time she

hope for her life again, she only wanted to

want anything else—not to dredge up old wounds,

peace. A simple life

ended up

was scarred

other was battered

the ending she

Jessica gripped Herbert's shirt with trembling hands. "Save him. Please; save him. I can't watch him die

can't accept it, please,

whatever it takes.