Goodbye, Mr. Regret

"Sallie, do you seriously have the nerve to call me right now? Or have you just conveniently forgotten everything that happened?"

She was furious.

Vince gritted his teeth and spat out, "Let me make myself perfectly clear: from this day on, whatever happens to Timothy-whether he lives or dies-has absolutely nothing to do with the Zimmerman family!"

With those words, he hung up.

Sallie nearly threw her phone in frustration.

This was a disaster.

Salome had always been the Zimmermans' favorite. That day, right in front of Vince, she'd called Jessica a mute and accused her of embarrassing the Lawsons just by showing up.

It was no wonder Vince had lost his temper.

But now Timothy had vanished without a trace. Where was she supposed to find him?

Timothy was on the mountain.

He'd returned to the same old abbey he'd visited once before.

He was lucky; just as he walked in, he came across Father Benedict, the abbey's head priest, whom he'd met on his previous visit.

"Father," Timothy greeted him quietly.

Father Benedict pressed his palms together and bowed his head slightly. "Peace be with you, my son."

Timothy had seen enough of the world to know the proper etiquette, and since he'd come seeking the priest's guidance on how to escape his pain, he tried to follow Father Benedict's example, bowing his head and folding his hands. "Peace be with you, Father. I visited your abbey once before, and your words about suffering left a deep impression on me. I have some questions I'd like to ask."

come this way, my

Benedict into the

through the air while soft Gregorian chants played in the background. The moment

to quiet, if only for a

pot of tea was kept warm. After a brief glance, Father Benedict poured

the priest asked

so composed—almost unreadable-couldn't hide his surprise. It wasn't often that anyone could see

you know?"

unhurried. "It's written all over your

He prided himself on keeping

point hiding them. He got straight to the

do you think it can be eased?" Father

if we could go back to our old life together, then the pain would stop. But she refuses. She's gone, and I fear she

an addict is overwhelmed by withdrawal, what's the first thing he thinks

drug,"

does the pain go away for

comes back the

satisfied. "So,

for an addict, the relief from pain is only temporary. Taking the drug eases the suffering for a

The pain ebbs for a little while, and the person feels happiness what we

relief, but that only

felt a chill run through him.

couldn't

wife came back to me and we lived as we used to, wouldn't that take the pain away? Isn't

Does someone who never started ever suffer withdrawal? The only real cure is to quit entirely. Only then can