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

where he was,

pressed against his

behind without a

are. Until you taste someone else's pain for

finally see why Jessica was so determined to

had

misunderstandings between them, but it had forced Jessica to see just how selfish

had been

he and their son had needed her, she treated

they were

The knowledge stung.

yell at him, curse him, hit him-anything. He could have handled

But she didn't.

only ever spoke a few words, and only when

wouldn't even

quietly bore it all on her

back

Dad, I want to visit a friend who helped me recover my voice.

Mrs. Zimmerman nodded. “Your

told us about

over sometime? We'd love to thank

out of