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."

of them turned and headed for

where he was, defeated

dull ache pressed

behind without a word-just walked away- she had felt exactly like he did

taste someone else's pain for

could finally see why Jessica was so

had been

it deepened the misunderstandings between them, but it had forced Jessica to

been right all

and their son had needed her, she treated them like treasures, swallowed every hardship

didn't need her, they were little more than an

The knowledge stung.

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

But she didn't.

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

wouldn't even mention

quietly bore it all on

stepped back

I want to visit a friend who

Mrs. Zimmerman nodded. “Your

us about

you invite him over sometime?

grandfather's out