Goodbye, Mr. Regret

"It's alright, you don't need to look anymore."

"Vince."

Jessica tried to pull away from him. This kind of embrace felt wrong between

them.

But Vince just held her tighter, as if he was terrified she might vanish if he let go.

"Salome..."

Salome?

The name sounded so familiar to Jessica.

It took her a moment, but then she remembered—on that day, stranded on the

island, Timothy had called her by that name.

Jessica stood frozen, confused.

Above her, Vince's voice was rough with guilt, drifting down to her.

"Salome, I'm sorry. Your brother came too late."

"Please forgive me."

"I promise, I'll never let you be hurt again."

Vince pressed his cheek against the top of Jessica's head, but there was no joy in

his face—only endless regret.

He hated himself for his carelessness.

He hated that he hadn't stabbed that knife a little deeper that day.

He gripped Jessica's shoulders and let her go, bending to look into her face. His

right hand traveled down her arm, finding her hand, and suddenly he used it to

strike his own cheek.

"Salome, hit me. Punish this useless brother of yours."

Just as he tried to make her slap him again, Jessica resisted, forcing her hand to

land softly on his face instead.

looked up at Vince, bewildered. "Vince, what are you talking about? I

but I'm not... Please, don't do this.

breaking my heart."

of the Zimmerman family—I know

do you have a small heart-shaped birthmark over your

Jessica hesitated, then nodded.

pulled out his phone, scrolling to a saved photo.

you as a child?"

dilated, staring at

Her childhood self,

her

Each one was her.

finally looked up again, she saw a tear clinging to the corner

eye.

quietly, "Are you really my brother? But why don't I remember any

have parents, a grandmother, a home—how could

the birthmark from

no DNA test had been done. But Timothy

said long ago he'd

have done the DNA test;

Vince had returned to the States, he'd told Timothy about

birthmark.

Timothy know all

did, how could

but if

DNA test."

watching, finally spoke. "Jess, I think it's

called Mr.

always meticulous; if he said

clicked for

madman, pointing

wanted her name

wanted her to carve his

knew about her

when you asked Timothy to help look for

him

We met at the Red House to talk about it, but things went

few

Jessica's mind reeled.

So he knew.

he

yet still threatened her

past

her real identity

back to

tattoo

wanted to erase it—so Vince would

kind of man

have fallen in love with