Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Timothy brought Henry home.

As they stepped inside, Timothy walked ahead, while Henry trailed behind, his head hanging low.

When they reached the living room, Timothy sank onto the couch, and Henry stood in front of him, fidgeting nervously.

"Kneel," Timothy said sternly.

Most of the time, Timothy was gentle with Henry, rarely losing his temper. But when it came to discipline, he was unwaveringly strict.

Sensing his father's anger, Henry's fear got the better of him. With a soft thud, he dropped to his knees on the hard floor, looking utterly miserable.

Timothy's heart twisted at the sight of his son's distress. No matter how he tried to steel himself, it hurt to see Henry like this. After all, he wasn't blameless in the matter.

He should have stepped in the very first time Henry asked for Sheila to come with him to the arts competition. Over the past seven years of marriage, Timothy had never let Jessica meet outsiders or taken her to public events. Part of that was because, long ago, he'd promised Sheila that if he ever married, he wouldn't make his wife public-back then, he'd had no idea who that wife would be.

But it was also because Jessica was mute. If people found out he'd married a mute woman, the difference in their status, combined with her disability, would only bring her more scrutiny and pain. Most would say she was unworthy of him.

He didn't want that for her, so he'd kept their marriage private. Their life together was their own business; there was no need for the world to intrude.

Jessica, for her part, had always been quiet and obedient. Their marriage seemed normal enough—at least, so Timothy thought. He never imagined things would unravel like this.

Just then, Sallie burst into the room. Spotting Henry kneeling on the floor, she crossed the distance in three quick steps and scooped him up into her arms.

The floor's hard, and Henry's still growing. What if he hurts his knees?

doing here?"

to Sallie's neck,

back. "I come when I want to. If I hadn't shown up, I wouldn't have known you were

him down!"

was at fault, but Henry had made mistakes too. This wasn't

only six! What could he have

at Henry, his

but Sallie held him tight, shooting Timothy

not laying a finger on him," she declared. Timothy's frustration boiled

people outside that Sheila was his mother," Timothy said, voice taut with anger. "He's ashamed of his own mother because she can't speak At his age, he's already this deceitful, this

mute? You've been married seven years and never once introduced her to anyone. So why shouldn't Henry feel the same?

was nearly speechless with anger. "You have no idea what you're talking

don't I?" Sallie

Sheila showed up, you barely acknowledged Jessica. No wedding, no photos, never invited her anywhere. But

Henry was never like this before. It's all on you, Timothy.

punished, so she shifted

pressed his

at fault, but