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

stayed where he was,

ache pressed

left her behind without a

are. Until you taste someone else's pain for

finally see why Jessica was

had been

it deepened the misunderstandings between them, but it had forced Jessica to see just how selfish he became when things

been right all

needed her, she treated them like treasures,

need her, they were little more than

The knowledge stung.

would yell at him, curse him, hit him-anything. He

But she didn't.

ever spoke a few words, and only when pushed to the

she wouldn't even

quietly bore it

stepped back

Jessica said, "Mom, Dad, I want

Mrs. Zimmerman nodded. “Your

told us about him-he

Why don't you invite him over sometime? We'd love to

grandfather's out