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, bewildered. "Vince,

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

breaking my heart."

Salome of the Zimmerman family—I

a small heart-shaped birthmark over your

Jessica hesitated, then nodded.

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

you as a child?"

dilated, staring

Her

showed her

Each one was her.

again, she saw a tear clinging to the corner of

eye.

brother?

have parents, a grandmother, a home—how could I be your

Vince had only heard about the birthmark from

had been done. But Timothy had

long ago he'd

have done the DNA test; there was no doubt

to

birthmark.

Timothy know

did,

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

DNA test."

had been quietly watching, finally spoke. "Jess, I

just called Mr. Zimmerman a minute

always meticulous; if he said it, it must be

everything clicked

had acted like a madman, pointing to his

wanted her name carved

carve his name in

about her

Timothy to help look for your sister,

him about the

talk about it, but

to say it then. A few

Jessica's mind reeled.

So he knew.

when did he find out?

still

own past

her real

her back

tattoo over the birthmark on her

to erase it—so Vince

what kind of man had

could she have fallen in love with