Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Back when they used to have dinner together, Jessica's mother would always peel the shrimp and place them in her father's bowl.

Tonight, as Jessica quietly offered Timothy the plate of shrimp, inviting him to peel them for her, he found himself oddly pleased.

Suddenly, Sheila set down her fork and said, "Timothy, I'm finished eating. I'll head home now."

Timothy just nodded lightly.

But before Sheila could leave, Henry grabbed her hand, his voice plaintive: "Miss Sheila, you promised you'd stay with me until I fell asleep tonight."

Jessica put down her fork and signed to Sheila, "Grown-ups shouldn't break promises to kids. Miss Howard, you should stay."

Timothy frowned slightly. Hasn't she always disliked Sheila staying here? Had she changed her mind? Was she ready to go back to the way things were?

This was the first time Jessica had ever spoken to Sheila on her own accord. Sheila, curious about Jessica's sudden change, decided to stay and find out what was going on.

"Alright then, I'll go play with Henry for a bit," she agreed.

Henry beamed and tugged Sheila upstairs.

up a shrimp, about to peel it, when Jessica signed, "I'm done too, you don't need to peel any more. I'm

and

she grabbed her phone from her bag,

was filled with

asking if she needed him to step

been feeling guilty and wanted to know if Jessica

rest were all

Group... If you're thinking about giving up your future just because you're afraid you'll drag

I'll cut ties with my family. Tomorrow, I'll go

tell me. No matter what it takes,

Mute, please text me

her phone

since they

her father abandoned her and disappeared without a

grown up in a single-parent home too; his

fights, and once, after getting scolded and beaten by Mrs. Reynolds,

stones into the water, mumbling about why he