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.

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

your sister, but I'm not... Please,

breaking my heart."

are. You're the Salome of the Zimmerman

you have a small heart-shaped birthmark over your left

Jessica hesitated, then nodded.

out his phone, scrolling

you as a child?"

staring

Her

her

Each one was her.

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

eye.

"Are you really my brother?

parents, a grandmother, a home—how

the birthmark from Herbert,

DNA test had

said long ago

DNA

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

birthmark.

Timothy know all

did,

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

DNA test."

been quietly watching, finally

Mr. Zimmerman a

he said it, it must be

everything clicked for

day, Timothy had acted like a madman, pointing to his own

wanted her name

said he wanted her to carve

knew about

"Vince, when you asked Timothy to help

tell him

did. We met at the Red House to talk about it, but

then. A few

Jessica's mind reeled.

So he knew.

did he find out?

yet still threatened her

past

using her real identity

back to his

her to tattoo over the

wanted to erase it—so Vince would

what kind of man had she

fallen in love