Goodbye, Mr. Regret

She always tried her best to help others within her own abilities.

"Don't worry. Everything will get better-trust me," Vince said, his voice gentle and reassuring.

Jessica nodded quietly.

Vince glanced at the sketchbook in her hands. "If flipping through that book makes you feel uneasy right now, you don't have to look at it."

"I know," she replied softly.

He gave her shoulder a comforting pat. "Try to get some rest, okay?"

When Vince left, he pulled the door closed behind him with care.

As her older brother, he'd been there through her divorce from Timothy. He knew all too well how hard it would be for her to truly forget him. Childhood affection that lingers into adulthood can root itself deep in your bones. The deeper the roots, the more it hurts to pull them out.

For Jessica, moving on and saying goodbye to the past must feel almost impossible. Even as an outsider, Vince felt a sharp ache just watching her struggle.

He wondered how much kindness and care it would take to heal the wounds she carried.

Jessica sat with the sketchbook in her lap, but in the end, she couldn't bring herself to open

Mrs. Zimmerman took her

today Vince was coming to take over so

Jessica entered the hospital room, his face lit up, though

to his bedside, sat down, and took

you feeling any

truly the pride of the Zimmerman family," Larkin said, his voice frail but

losing her

just me," Jessica replied. "There were so many people working hard behind

tire him out. Since he

stayed behind to keep Larkin company, while Zachary and

elevator doors slid open, they

go home to cook for Henry and bring back some clean clothes. Timothy's shirt was wrinkled, his stubble unshaven, and his bloodshot eyes betrayed his exhaustion; his usually handsome

Rather than step inside, they waited

automatically a moment later, but before they could fully shut, Timothy pressed the button and opened them

enough to