Goodbye, Mr. Regret

He didn't speak again until they reached Jessica's apartment. After pulling up at the curb, Herbert finally asked, "Did you forget to pack your Voice Emitting Necklace before you left the country?"

At the mention of the device, Jessica couldn't help recalling that day—Timothy had tossed the necklace out the window, and she'd spent ages searching for it outside, but never managed to find it. She hadn't wanted to tell Herbert the whole story and make him worry, so she simply signed, guilt written all over her face: "I'm sorry. I lost it."

So that was what happened.

"It's fine," Herbert said gently. "I'll just order you a new one."

Jessica shook her head and signed quickly, "No need. I might be able to speak again in a while. There's no point spending money—it'd just be a waste."

She was adamant that Herbert shouldn't buy her another Voice Emitting Necklace.

That day, Timothy had forcibly slipped a voice ring onto her finger. Though she'd kept it, she had no intention of ever using it—and certainly not of wearing it.

"If you don't want it, I won't force you," Herbert relented. "But promise me this- once your throat stops hurting, and I've checked and made sure everything's healed, let me know so you can start your rehab exercises."

signed, "I'm heading up. You should get back

waved as she made her way to the entrance. Jessica stood and watched his car pull away before finally turning toward

"Jessica."

called from

stopped and glanced back. Sheila was approaching her. "Do you have a

Jessica's diagnosis was confirmed, Sheila had come to Riverside City. They'd known each other for over a month now, but had never been alone together-every conversation had either Timothy or Henry nearby. Each time Sheila spoke, it sounded to Jessica like

"I don't think there's

absent, Sheila finally dropped the pretense. She gave a cold, tight-lipped

your impression, Miss Howard. And your impressions aren't always accurate. You're

"But what about Timothy?"

curled into

as her

worryel won't compete with you. I've

frowned slightly. The woman standing in front of her was nothing like she'd imagined. The first time they'd met at the gates of The Gilded Whisper Estates, Jessica had clearly been rattled by her presence her face pale, her mood uneasy. After that, Jessica would vanish for days at a time, only returning when Timothy went out searching for