Goodbye, Mr. Regret

As for the brooch, she never accepted it. Just the sight of it made her angry.

And then there was that last gift bag left unopened on the bedroom Christmas tree.

"You did nothing wrong-it was all my fault. Go take care of it," Timothy said, ending the call. He bought himself a ticket to an early screening.

At the theater's promotional booth, he queued up to claim a fan gift-merchandise inspired by the movie's characters. Timothy received a glass bottle ornament with a tiny photo inside: the film's main characters, mother and son, smiling together. The glass sparkled in the light, beautiful and delicate.

He examined the character designs. The aesthetic was unmistakably Jessica's.

It felt like all the air had been sucked from the room. He couldn't breathe; his chest ached.

Timothy's gaze drifted toward the director, Carlisle, and he couldn't help recalling the day Yates had come to deliver the film materials. Vince had swooped in, snapping up the movie rights.

Had Vince already known, even then, how closely Jessica was connected to this film?

Timothy still didn't know exactly how, but the mere thought nearly gave him a heart attack.

Back then, he'd had the audacity to tell Yates he wanted to acquire the film for Sheila, to give her top billing, all so he could find a strong, dramatic role to launch her career.

Vince had reminded him that his own wife was an animator too.

That a true genius wouldn't

actually came to see

here in person, lining up for a fan gift like everyone

looks great-quick, get a picture, record

Timothy was lost in his memories, oblivious to

President Lawson's name mentioned, glanced up. Sure enough, there

knew Timothy was Jessica's husband. Jessica had given up her career for her

darkened for a moment, but he kept smiling, helping the host

way inside to collect his

the theater. The three of them were the only ones

sat on either side of

began, the familiar music and imagery sent Jessica's heart racing. She'd

script, and he'd relied heavily on her ideas for the

a sweeping

been thinking so much

the story. So many scenes were filled with

waves, every bottle containing a letter. If the letter failed to reach its destination, the bottle would shatter

message left to him by his late mother-the film retraced her harrowing ordeal at sea, he desperate struggle to bring him into the world, and her memories of pregnancy: life forming, mother and son bound by a single cord

film had no

poignant. Gavin's story threaded