Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Timothy's eyes were glued to the screen, unmoving.

Even as the credits rolled and disappeared, Jessica's name lingered before his mind's eye, floating there as if the darkness itself couldn't swallow it.

She'd married him just a few months after graduating college.

He'd never shortchanged her when it came to money, not once.

Still, she lived frugally, turning the Gilded Whisper Estates into a well-ordered, peaceful home. The household account always matched her meticulous budget down to the last cent.

He'd only discovered her ledgers by accident one day. He told her there was no need to keep such detailed records-it was all just for the house, after all.

She insisted, saying that even if money came easily to him, it shouldn't be wasted. Luck, she said, was fragile and easily squandered-the hardest thing in the world to regain.

Timothy never understood her thinking.

And he never wanted to argue about it.

So he let it go.

A few days ago, he'd opened the safe.

Everything was still there. Not a single thing missing.

So where had she gotten the money to invest in this film?

Timothy couldn't figure it out, no matter how many times he turned it over in his head.

And this animated film-he wasn't an expert, but even he could see it had all the makings of a hit.

Unlike the usual movies set in either contemporary or historical times, this one unfolded in the future—a unique blend of science fiction and tradition, with a style all its own.

He'd never known his wife had this kind of talent-not just animating, but writing scripts too.

Even he, a man not prone to sentimental displays, had immediately thought of his own mother. There were several scenes that stung his eyes, made him blink back a sudden rush of tears.

Her stories of family, of love-they hit home, sharp and true.

The film's production was first-rate, too.

Soon, the theater seats around him emptied.

remained, still

next group came in

He missed her.

much it felt like his heart might split

been missing her for a long

he'd come back from that business trip to attend Henry's father-son event, they hadn't really spent much time together. In a blink, more than three months

hold

Timothy made

for their

out of

both of them wore crisp white shirts, the background a

known how to

she'd brought along a simple white veil, asking him to help pin it in her hair with

smile in that photo was the same as the one he'd seen in Vince's social media posts a

corners of his

smiled at him like that, once-eyes soft, happiness shining

of wipes. He cleaned the glass until

before it, surveying

the bedroom looked

something

paced a slow circle around the

he sank onto

knew what was

Love.

Jessica's love.

her, this wasn't

haven he could retreat to at the

He'd lost his wife.

fingers flying

credits had

end as well. Vince had taken her to watch Carliste and the others' promotional livestream. The siblings laughed and chatted, both

his phone, jotting down notes. He still wasn't satisfied with

livestream ended, Vince called him to leave. Yates put away his phone and followed him out of

before, Vince took

Yates didn't head to the passenger seat but

front and keep me