Goodbye, Mr. Regret

She'd been having a nightmare, but what really woke her was the pain.

She'd gone a whole day without her medication.

That was something she simply couldn't do.

Jessica turned her face away, refusing to look at him.

But the pain was so sharp, so overwhelming, that she could barely endure it; half- reclined in the plane's seat, her body curled up uncontrollably.

Timothy's panic only grew. He gripped her arm, his voice tight with worry. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"

"Leave me alone!" she snapped, shoving his hand away.

If it weren't for him, she wouldn't be suffering this way.

She hadn't been born with liver disease. The doctors said her illness was the result of years of bottled-up emotions.

She'd been getting better-distancing herself from Timothy and his son, faithfully taking the medicine prescribed for her conservative treatment. The cancer cells had even shown signs of shrinking, giving her a real chance at surgery.

But now, he was about to ruin everything again.

"You're my wife. How could I not care? Is it your stomach? Let me help-maybe a little massage-"

She'd been asleep for seven or eight hours; they must be almost there.

Jessica's forehead was slick with sweat. This pain-no massage could possibly ease it.

"Don't touch me."

She pushed him away again.

Timothy stared at the perspiration beading on her brow, then called out to the pilot, "Contact the nearest airstrip. We need to land as soon as possible."

They were already back in the country. It didn't matter if they didn't go straight to Riverside City.

With her in this state, he had to get her to a hospital.

"Timothy! Don't change course. Take us home, straight home!"

Her medication was at the house. All she needed was to take her pills, and she'd be fine.

She was always careful to have her medication ready and on time. If they landed somewhere unfamiliar, it would only delay things, and there was no guarantee she could even get the prescription she needed.

let him find out

enough to leave him as it was;

would

was still uneasy. "But you're in so much pain. You need a

I just need to rest. I want to

had no choice but to back down. He told

was in agony, using every ounce of strength she had just to hold herself

unbuckled her seatbelt and lifted

all-consuming she had no energy left to protest. She let herself

embrace was familiar

of place she'd wanted to lean on more

when she was at her lowest. He was always so calm, so unshakeable;

slipped under her sweater, coming to rest on her abdomen,

he asked

you're suffering, every emotion

someone care-it's a

pain had already drowned out any strength to refuse

silent.

soothe her, to

someone in

ie'

ет

that pain cuts even deeper because of them and

you once

leave the

We'rest there. Once we're

your wish will finally come

tried to distract her with small

pain only made it worse-he knew that, and it

I

Jessica hesitated, skeptical.

More likely a shock or a

want to

him

trust me anymore,

She still said nothing.

You'll believe me eventually. As