Goodbye, Mr. Regret

"It's alright, you don't need to look anymore."

"Vince."

Jessica tried to pull away from him. This kind of embrace felt wrong between

them.

But Vince just held her tighter, as if he was terrified she might vanish if he let go.

"Salome..."

Salome?

The name sounded so familiar to Jessica.

It took her a moment, but then she remembered—on that day, stranded on the

island, Timothy had called her by that name.

Jessica stood frozen, confused.

Above her, Vince's voice was rough with guilt, drifting down to her.

"Salome, I'm sorry. Your brother came too late."

"Please forgive me."

"I promise, I'll never let you be hurt again."

Vince pressed his cheek against the top of Jessica's head, but there was no joy in

his face—only endless regret.

He hated himself for his carelessness.

He hated that he hadn't stabbed that knife a little deeper that day.

He gripped Jessica's shoulders and let her go, bending to look into her face. His

right hand traveled down her arm, finding her hand, and suddenly he used it to

strike his own cheek.

"Salome, hit me. Punish this useless brother of yours."

Just as he tried to make her slap him again, Jessica resisted, forcing her hand to

land softly on his face instead.

She looked up at Vince, bewildered. "Vince, what are you talking about? I know

you've been searching for your sister, but I'm not... Please, don't do this. You're

breaking my heart."

You're the Salome of the

you have a small heart-shaped birthmark over

Jessica hesitated, then nodded.

his phone, scrolling to a saved photo. "Look,

you as a child?"

dilated, staring at the

was her. Her childhood self,

showed her picture

Each one was her.

saw

eye.

you really my brother?

parents, a grandmother, a

only heard about the

had been done. But Timothy

ago

DNA test; there was no doubt

returned to the States, he'd

birthmark.

know all

he did,

was hoarse. "I'm sure it's you, but

DNA test."

been quietly watching, finally

called Mr. Zimmerman

was always meticulous; if he said

everything clicked for

a madman, pointing to his own chest and

wanted her name carved

her to carve his name in the

knew about her

you asked Timothy to help look for

him

did. We met at the Red House to talk about it, but things went badly, so

say it then. A few days later,

Jessica's mind reeled.

So he knew.

did he find

still threatened her

past outside

her real

back to his

her to tattoo over the

to erase it—so Vince

of man had

fallen in love

went white as a

her talk