Regret Came Too Late

Grace's mind was in turmoil. She couldn't fall asleep, unsure if what had just happened was a dream or reality. Her thoughts were a jumbled mess.

It wasn't until evening that Joanne arrived at her hospital room.

Joanne looked pale. Her face was ashen, looking as if she had lost a lot of blood. Even when she sat on the edge of the bed, her fingers trembled slightly.

Grace grew concerned and quickly got out of bed. "What happened? Is the wound hurting?"

Joanne slowly shook her head, but the pallor on her face was evident.

"Grace, I'm going to discharge myself."

Her voice was hoarse, and she looked like she had been crying. It seemed like she had cried a lot.

Grace felt her heart tighten. "Did something happen at home?"

She didn't remember much about Joanne's family situation.

"No, I'm just really tired. I want to go home and sleep. I can't sleep here at the hospital."

"Alright, then I'll take you home," Grace offered.

"No, I want to be alone for a while."

Joanne's voice was heavy with sadness, and when she tried to stand, she almost stumbled.

Grace could tell she didn't want to talk about it, so she didn't press further.

going home. The interruption had taken her mind off Ethan,

phone, she realized it

"What are you doing?

you picking up the

you up. Where

hours and no reply-are

messages were piling up. There were

and she didn't have the energy to scroll through them all.

lay down on the bed to rest. When she was

holding her hand, their warmth spreading from their palm to her

"Ed?"

his name, reaching for her

spoon was brought to her

"Eat something."

up She had sweated through the night,

an

sips of the soup, and the smell of something delicious

you make this

slightly. "I'm not very good

strange aroma, a sign that

the soup and felt much better. "So,

whatever. As long as it's

about how

his words had come out wrong. "I didn't

"Mean to what?"