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

remained,

until the next group came

He missed her.

felt like

been missing

he'd come back from that business trip to attend Henry's father-son event, they hadn't really spent much time together.

wish to hold her felt like

Whisper Estates, Timothy made his way to the basement

their

dug it out of

them wore crisp white shirts, the background

how to savor

brought along a simple white veil, asking him to help pin it in her hair

the same as the one he'd seen

felt the corners of

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

frame upstairs, 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

stood before it, surveying the

the photo back up, the bedroom looked just as

something was

a slow circle around the master suite,

he sank onto the couch,

knew what

Love.

Jessica's love.

this wasn't

the haven he could retreat to at the end of a

He'd lost his wife.

his phone, his fingers flying over the screen as he

the credits had

her to watch Carliste and the others' promotional livestream. The siblings laughed and chatted,

phone, jotting down

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

before, Vince took the

to the passenger seat but slid into the