Goodbye, Mr. Regret

He'd walked right up to Jessica—a woman he'd never even met before—and

proposed to her on the spot.

Even now, he couldn't forget the way she looked at him in stunned silence, her

eyes wide and searching.

Time seemed to freeze in that moment.

Waiting for her answer, he'd felt a strange mix of emotions—an unfamiliar struggle

twisting inside him. Would she say yes? Would she turn him down?

After what felt like forever, she finally smiled and nodded.

The tension in his chest unraveled in an instant, his heart swelling so wide it felt

as if it could contain mountains and rivers.

It wasn't that he didn't have feelings; he was just always so reserved, so careful

with himself.

That impulsive rush carried him all the way to the courthouse.

It was only when he stood there, marriage certificate in hand, the seal still fresh,

that it hit him—how reckless he'd been.

He told himself to calm down, to think.

That was when she brought up taking wedding photos.

He refused.

Now Timothy wondered if maybe, from that very moment, he'd already started to

hurt her.

"Timothy?"

Her voice pulled him back to the present. "You should go home," he said quietly.

"I'm fine."

He couldn't let Sheila get any closer to him. If things kept going this way, the

distance between him and Jessica would only grow.

Sheila was stunned. Of all the things Timothy could have said to her, "go home"

was the last she'd expected.

Trying to hold herself together, she protested, "You're hurt so badly—how can I

just leave you here?"

murmured, "She's hurting

off guard.

hurt

Jessica

Her wounds were deeper.

beginning to understand. His own injuries could be

But the pain inside

today, knowing

a

She really wanted out.

he should let her go. Maybe it was time to

certificate like a shackle.

every time he imagined letting go—releasing the kite string he'd held so

felt

mad. They were in the

else—somewhere with

and

now

as if an invisible fist was tightening around

for so many years, but the man

and further away.

returned to Sheila. "Go home.

again."

they crashed

against the shore, each one tearing

in tears, her back straight and proud,

His face was empty,

had left half an

Vince finally

cottage, his heart aching for reasons

quite name.

least the place was cozy and

invited Vince to sit in the living room. As she prepared

in a trembling, hoarse voice,

grow up here?"

was something raw in his voice, and the way he looked at her—so

emotion Herbert couldn't

unsettled.

made no attempt to hide how much he cared about

the city. After she passed away, I moved

is where

grandmother must have loved

her grandmother had loved

Jessica's

had worked herself

She'd

of, and

being able to

had weighed heavily on

the end, the double blow was