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.

home. The interruption had taken her mind off

sat in the car and checked her phone, she realized it had been on silent mode. There were many messages from

"What are you doing?

you picking

to pick you up. Where are

no reply-are

up. There

to

she lay down on the bed to rest. When she was half-asleep, she felt

her hand, their warmth spreading from their palm to her

"Ed?"

her phone to check the time. But

was brought to her

"Eat something."

finally noticing that her whole body had been cleaned up She had sweated through the night, and her pajamas had even

an

the soup, and the smell of

you make this yourself?"

fingers trembled slightly. "I'm not very good

strange aroma, a sign

finished the soup and felt much better. "So, when you live

long as

about how the

to realize that his words had come

"Mean to what?"