Goodbye, Mr. Regret

"Thank you, Doctor," Sallie said quietly.

She walked with Timothy back to his hospital room.

Timothy's back was covered in wounds, so many that the doctor insisted he leave his shirt off so his injuries could breathe. He was made to lie on his stomach, and Sallie sat at the head of the bed, her eyes brimming with tears at the sight.

The awkward position made it impossible for Timothy to get comfortable. Before long, he slowly opened his eyes and caught the glimmer of tears in Sallie's gaze.

He called out softly, "Sis."

That single word broke Sallie's composure. She burst into tears. "Timothy, how- how did it get this bad? What happened to you? Why didn't you tell me anything? If I hadn't gone looking for you tonight, you could've died at Moonstrand Villas and no one would've even known."

Her heart ached for him.

Things had been so much better when Jessica was around. She'd always kept her focus on Timothy and Henry-she'd never have let anything like this happen to Timothy. Even if something had gone wrong, Jessica would have been at his side, quietly caring for him, never leaving him alone.

It was only in this moment that Sallie realized how well-suited Jessica had been for Timothy: gentle, thoughtful, the kind of woman who let Timothy focus on his work and his ambitions, never having to worry about home.

She really had been the perfect wife for him.

"You're almost thirty, and you're still bawling like a kid. Aren't you embarrassed?" Timothy's voice was hoarse from exhaustion and pain, but still somehow deep and soothing.

That only made Sallie's tears flow harder.

her so many times—not to call Jessica names, not to treat her so

But she never listened.

care, even though Sallie constantly picked on her, thinking her brother deserved more than a wife who couldn't speak. She'd always found fault

shouldn't have treated Salome that

Salome?" Timothy's voice was

talk about your marriage.

to getting her way. She'd never had to bow

beloved little sister. How

tight. "Tell Grandpa it's over. There's

you really

"That's not it."

said: I'm giving you seven years of my life. Later, she'd

And then-the accident.

the blink of an eye, "forever" had become real. She'd truly given

could bear a divorce. He could let her leave him. But he couldn't bear the thought of

always said she liked you best, wanted to marry you. Don't

art... She shouldn't be trapped with me. I'm tired, Sis. I need some rest. Go home and

Qu

things didn't need to be said out loud-she already