Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Jessica braced herself against the wall, the bowl of water she'd been carrying slipping from her grasp and crashing to the floor, sending water splashing

everywhere.

She looked pale and unsteady.

Timothy hurried over and caught her before she could fall. "Jessy, what's wrong? Are you feeling sick? Let me take you to the hospital."

She tried to shrug him off, but a sharp pain twisted through her abdomen, leaving her too weak to resist.

Vince rushed over, gently prying Timothy's arm away and wrapping his own around Jessica's shoulders.

In a faint voice, Jessica muttered, "Vince, make him leave. I don't want to see him."

Timothy's heart pounded in his chest. "I'm not going anywhere! You're sick, Jessy. Let me take you to see a doctor."

Jessica shot him a cold look. "I don't need your help. Just go."

Even though she was barely holding herself together, her words came out with surprising force.

to find out about her cancer. His voice was steely as he turned to Timothy. "Didn't you say you were going to change?

hesitated, torn, but after a long moment he finally turned and

over to the bed next to Daisy's and eased

have my medication. I'll be fine once I take it. I just left my bag in Grandpa's room-could

vigil. When Zachary saw him, he said, "Vince, why don't you take your mother and Jessy home to rest for

I'll go get

and returned to the room. He

swallowing them with a sip

to get you and Mom home. Are you up for

Mom home first. If she sees me like this, she'll only worry and insist I go to the

come back for you. Jessy, don't be scared. The test results will come quickly, and

found her again—he couldn't bear to lose her now. No one in the

Jessy had already met Daisy and had even taken her as her goddaughter. With Daisy running a fever, Jessy was worried and wanted to stay at

nor Mrs. Zimmerman protested, so Vince took Mrs. Zimmerman home

the entrance, smoking nervously, watching as Vince led Mrs. Zimmerman out to the