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.

never, ever let him find out about

was;

it would save

still uneasy. "But you're in so much

this because of you. I just need to rest. I want to go home, Timothy. Please-I don't want to go anywhere else. Just take

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

ounce of strength she had just to hold

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

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

embrace was familiar

was steady, comforting—the kind of place she'd wanted to

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

sweater, coming to rest on her

he

emotion is raw

someone care-it's a devastating kind of

resist, but the pain had already drowned out any strength

to answer, she stayed silent. Timothy did

stomach, trying to soothe her, to ease the

always someone

ie'

ет

them and yet, when you see

you once loved with

to leave the island for

We'rest there. Once we're

your wish will finally come

distract her

only made it worse-he

there's a surprise I want to tell

Jessica hesitated, skeptical.

likely a shock

to

gave him a

me anymore,

She still said nothing.

her tighter. "That's okay. You'll believe me