Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Timothy's eyes were glued to the screen, unmoving.

Even as the credits rolled and disappeared, Jessica's name lingered before his mind's eye, floating there as if the darkness itself couldn't swallow it.

She'd married him just a few months after graduating college.

He'd never shortchanged her when it came to money, not once.

Still, she lived frugally, turning the Gilded Whisper Estates into a well-ordered, peaceful home. The household account always matched her meticulous budget down to the last cent.

He'd only discovered her ledgers by accident one day. He told her there was no need to keep such detailed records-it was all just for the house, after all.

She insisted, saying that even if money came easily to him, it shouldn't be wasted. Luck, she said, was fragile and easily squandered-the hardest thing in the world to regain.

Timothy never understood her thinking.

And he never wanted to argue about it.

So he let it go.

A few days ago, he'd opened the safe.

Everything was still there. Not a single thing missing.

So where had she gotten the money to invest in this film?

Timothy couldn't figure it out, no matter how many times he turned it over in his head.

And this animated film-he wasn't an expert, but even he could see it had all the makings of a hit.

Unlike the usual movies set in either contemporary or historical times, this one unfolded in the future—a unique blend of science fiction and tradition, with a style all its own.

He'd never known his wife had this kind of talent-not just animating, but writing scripts too.

Even he, a man not prone to sentimental displays, had immediately thought of his own mother. There were several scenes that stung his eyes, made him blink back a sudden rush of tears.

Her stories of family, of love-they hit home, sharp and true.

The film's production was first-rate, too.

theater seats

Timothy remained, still sitting

move until the next group came in for the following

He missed her.

so much it felt like his heart might split

he'd been missing her for a

they hadn't really spent much time together.

the simple wish to hold

at Gilded Whisper Estates, Timothy made his

searching for their marriage registration

out of

the frame, both of them wore crisp white shirts, the background a

always known how to savor

white veil, asking him to help pin it in her hair with a clip. Her long black hair was braided and draped

smile in that photo was the same as the one he'd seen in Vince's social media posts a smile that lit up

felt the corners

him like that, once-eyes soft, happiness shining

Timothy went to the master bedroom, sat down, and took out a pack of wipes. He cleaned the glass until it gleamed, then hung the photo back in its

it, surveying the

back up, the bedroom

yet, something was

around the master suite, searching for what

onto

knew what was

Love.

Jessica's love.

this wasn't

the haven he could retreat to at the end of a long

He'd lost his wife.

phone, his fingers flying over the screen as he

credits

Carliste and the others'

had spent most of the movie on his phone, jotting down notes. He still

called him to leave. Yates put away his phone and followed him out

before, Vince

didn't head to the passenger seat but slid into the back