Goodbye, Mr. Regret

He'd walked right up to Jessica—a woman he'd never even met before—and

proposed to her on the spot.

Even now, he couldn't forget the way she looked at him in stunned silence, her

eyes wide and searching.

Time seemed to freeze in that moment.

Waiting for her answer, he'd felt a strange mix of emotions—an unfamiliar struggle

twisting inside him. Would she say yes? Would she turn him down?

After what felt like forever, she finally smiled and nodded.

The tension in his chest unraveled in an instant, his heart swelling so wide it felt

as if it could contain mountains and rivers.

It wasn't that he didn't have feelings; he was just always so reserved, so careful

with himself.

That impulsive rush carried him all the way to the courthouse.

It was only when he stood there, marriage certificate in hand, the seal still fresh,

that it hit him—how reckless he'd been.

He told himself to calm down, to think.

That was when she brought up taking wedding photos.

He refused.

Now Timothy wondered if maybe, from that very moment, he'd already started to

hurt her.

"Timothy?"

Her voice pulled him back to the present. "You should go home," he said quietly.

"I'm fine."

He couldn't let Sheila get any closer to him. If things kept going this way, the

distance between him and Jessica would only grow.

Sheila was stunned. Of all the things Timothy could have said to her, "go home"

was the last she'd expected.

Trying to hold herself together, she protested, "You're hurt so badly—how can I

just leave you here?"

hurting more than I

mean Jessica?" Sheila faltered, caught off guard. "Don't worry, Vince told

hurt at

knew Jessica

Her wounds were deeper.

His own injuries could

the pain inside Jessica—there was no

to grab the steering wheel today, knowing her temperament, it had

than a

She really wanted out.

should let her go. Maybe it was time to stop clutching

certificate like a shackle.

go—releasing the kite string he'd held

heart felt empty,

were in the same room,

somewhere else—somewhere

and heavier in

knew now that

if an invisible fist was tightening around her

so many years, but the

and further away.

gaze returned to Sheila. "Go home. Don't make me say

again."

words were calm, but they crashed

one tearing at the wounds inside

straight and proud, but

His

and Herbert had left half an hour before Vince,

Vince finally

at the small, simple cottage, his heart aching for

quite name.

least the place was cozy

sit in the living room. As she prepared some

asked in a trembling, hoarse voice,

grow up here?"

something raw in his voice, and the way he looked at

Herbert couldn't quite name—made the whole room

unsettled.

attempt to hide how much he cared

with my mom in the city. After she passed away, I moved in with

So yes, I suppose this is where I spent most of

grandmother must have loved

softly. Yes, her grandmother had loved her

treat Jessica's mutism,

had worked

She'd

of,

being able to

had weighed

the end, the

passed away