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 are you talking about? I

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

breaking my heart."

are. You're the Salome of the Zimmerman family—I

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

Jessica hesitated, then nodded.

his phone, scrolling to a saved photo. "Look,

you as a child?"

staring at

Her childhood self,

showed her picture after

Each one was her.

finally looked up again, she saw a tear

eye.

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

grandmother, a home—how could I be

Vince had only heard about the birthmark from Herbert, he might

test had been

ago he'd

the DNA test; there was no doubt

last time Vince had returned to

birthmark.

Timothy know all

did, how could

"I'm sure it's you, but if you need proof, we can

DNA test."

quietly watching, finally spoke. "Jess, I think

Mr. Zimmerman

he said it, it must be

clicked for

had acted like a madman, pointing to

wanted her name

her to carve his name in

knew about her

trembled. "Vince, when you asked Timothy to help look for your sister,

him

did. We met at the Red House to talk

it then. A few days

Jessica's mind reeled.

So he knew.

did he find out?

yet still

past outside

using her real identity

her back to

wanted her to tattoo over the

erase it—so

of man

in love with