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

to leave him as it was; that secret was

would

"But you're in so much pain. You

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

had no choice but to back down. He told the pilot to stick to the original flight

using every ounce of strength she

unbuckled her seatbelt and

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

was

she'd wanted to lean on more times than

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

her sweater, coming to rest

here?" he asked gently,

emotion is raw and

care-it's a devastating kind

to resist, but the pain had already drowned out

silent. Timothy did

to soothe her, to ease the

always someone

ie'

ет

that pain cuts even deeper because of them and yet, when you see

the one you once loved with all your

wanted to leave the island for so long,

We'rest there. Once we're

will finally come

distract her

it worse-he knew that, and it

there's a surprise I

Jessica hesitated, skeptical.

from him? More likely a shock or

to know what

gave him a blank

me

She still said nothing.

You'll believe me eventually. As long