Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Timothy's gaze was sharp, almost piercing, as he looked deeply into Jessica's eyes. "It's because I'm afraid of losing her," he admitted, voice low.

He had made too many mistakes.

Now, he was at a loss.

All he could do was fight desperately, even if it meant hurting himself in the process.

In the end, everyone lost.

Timothy looked away, then bowed solemnly to Zachary and Mrs. Zimmerman.

"I never meant to keep this from you forever. I just hoped that by taking a roundabout approach, I could find a way to make things right with her again, bring her home myself, and deliver her safely back to you. But I've made a mess of everything. I'm sorry..."

Everything about Timothy-his posture, his words-radiated sincerity.

He was trying to change, to let go of his stubborn control.

He hoped, just once, to be forgiven.

But Jessica was unmoved.

Her face remained calm, expressionless, unreadable.

Zachary and Mrs. Zimmerman looked at their daughter, searching her face, but said nothing to Timothy.

Mrs. Zimmerman stepped up beside Jessica. "We're on the fourth floor. It won't take long to walk down. Let's take the stairs."

three of them turned and headed

he was, defeated and

pressed

if, every time he left her behind without a word-just

someone else's pain for yourself, it's hard to truly understand

Jessica was so determined to end

had been the

it deepened the misunderstandings between them, but it had forced

had been

needed her, she treated them like treasures,

they were little more

The knowledge stung.

curse him, hit

But she didn't.

spoke a few words, and only when

even mention

she quietly bore it

back into

car. Jessica said, "Mom, Dad, I want to visit a friend who helped me recover my voice. You

Mrs. Zimmerman nodded. “Your

told us about him-he

you invite him over sometime? We'd love to thank him in

grandfather's out of