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

as it was; that secret was her last card, her last

it would save

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

because of you. I just need to rest. I want to go home, Timothy. Please-I don't want to go

down. He told the pilot to stick to the original flight

ounce of strength she had just

her seatbelt and lifted her into

she had no energy left to protest.

embrace was familiar

place she'd wanted to lean on more times than

was always so calm, so unshakeable;

her sweater, coming to rest on her abdomen,

it here?" he

emotion is raw

a devastating kind

pain had already drowned out

stayed silent.

stomach, trying to soothe her, to

always someone in

ie'

ет

you hurt, that pain cuts even deeper because of them and yet, when you see them, you somehow forget all the

always the one you once loved

you've wanted to leave the

We'rest there. Once we're

will finally

distract her

made it worse-he knew that, and

surprise I want to tell

Jessica hesitated, skeptical.

surprise from him? More likely a shock or

to know what it

gave him a blank

me anymore, do

She still said nothing.

"That's okay. You'll believe me