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.

cancer-she would never, ever let

already hard enough to leave him as it was; that secret was her last card, her last escape

it would save

in so much pain. You

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

so firm, so resolute, that Timothy had no choice but to back down. He told the pilot to stick to the

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

couldn't stand it anymore. He unbuckled her seatbelt and lifted her into

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

embrace was familiar and

wanted to lean on more times than she

was at her lowest. He was always so calm, so unshakeable; deep down, she believed he could

her sweater, coming to rest on her abdomen, his

here?" he asked gently, voice

every emotion is raw

care-it's a

pain had already drowned out any

stayed silent. Timothy did

stomach, trying to soothe

always someone in

ie'

ет

because of them and yet, when

person is always the one you

you've wanted to leave the island for so

We'rest there. Once we're

your wish will finally come

distract her with small

only made it

surprise I want

Jessica hesitated, skeptical.

surprise from him? More likely

to know what it

gave him a

don't trust me anymore,

She still said nothing.

You'll believe me eventually. As