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.

the theater seats

Timothy remained,

didn't move until the next group came in for the following

He missed her.

felt like

missing

hadn't really spent much time together. In a blink,

simple wish to hold her felt like a

at Gilded Whisper Estates, Timothy made his

for their marriage registration

out

frame, both of them wore crisp white shirts, the

known how

she'd brought along a simple white veil, asking him to help pin it in her hair with a clip. Her long

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

felt the corners of

him like that, once-eyes soft, happiness

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 place on the

it,

back up, the bedroom looked just as it

yet, something was

circle around the master suite, searching for

he sank onto the couch,

what was

Love.

Jessica's love.

her, this wasn't home

warm. It wasn't peaceful. It wasn't the haven he could retreat to at the end of a

He'd lost his wife.

flying

the credits had

taken her to watch Carliste and the others'

of the movie on his phone, jotting down notes. He

Vince called him to leave. Yates put away

before, Vince took

the passenger seat but slid into