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.

"Vince, what

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

breaking my heart."

are. You're the Salome of

do you have a small heart-shaped birthmark over your left

Jessica hesitated, then nodded.

phone, scrolling to a saved photo. "Look,

you as a child?"

pupils dilated, staring at the

her. Her childhood

showed her picture

Each one was her.

again, she saw a tear

eye.

you really my brother? But why don't I

a home—how could I be your

heard about the birthmark from Herbert, he

all, no DNA test had been done. But Timothy

had said long ago

have done the DNA test; there

time Vince had returned to the States,

birthmark.

know all

did, how

you, but if you need

DNA test."

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

called Mr. Zimmerman a

was always meticulous; if he said it,

everything clicked for

acted like a madman, pointing to his own chest and

her name

said he wanted her to carve his

about her

when you asked Timothy to help look for

tell him about

talk about it, but things

say it then. A few days later, I told

Jessica's mind reeled.

So he knew.

did he

yet still threatened her

own past outside

her real

back to

her to tattoo over

it—so Vince would never

kind of man had she

she have fallen in love