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 around

remained, still

the next group came in for the

He missed her.

her so much it felt like his heart

was, he'd been missing her for a long

from that business trip to attend Henry's father-son event, they hadn't really spent much time together. In a

to hold her

Gilded Whisper Estates, Timothy made

for their marriage

out of

crisp white shirts, the background a bright,

always known how to

white veil, asking him to help pin it

that photo was the same as the one he'd seen in

felt the corners

smiled at him like that, once-eyes soft, happiness shining through every gentle

wipes. He cleaned the glass until it gleamed,

stood before it, surveying the

back up, the bedroom looked just

something

paced a slow circle around the master suite, searching

onto the

what

Love.

Jessica's love.

her, this wasn't home

wasn't peaceful. It wasn't the haven he could

He'd lost his wife.

his fingers flying

credits

end as well. Vince had taken her to watch Carliste and the others' promotional livestream. The siblings laughed and chatted, both

most of the movie on his phone, jotting

livestream ended, Vince called him to leave. Yates put away his phone and followed him

Vince took

passenger seat but