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."

them turned and headed for the

he was, defeated and

pressed

he left her behind without a word-just walked

how people are. Until you taste someone else's pain for yourself, it's hard to truly understand

see why Jessica was so determined to end their

arrival had been the

deepened the misunderstandings between them, but it had forced Jessica

had been right all

she

her, they were little more than an

The knowledge stung.

curse

But she didn't.

only ever spoke a few words, and

she wouldn't even mention

she quietly bore it

stepped back into the

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

Mrs. Zimmerman nodded. “Your

us about him-he

invite him over sometime?

out