Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Jessica braced herself against the wall, the bowl of water she'd been carrying slipping from her grasp and crashing to the floor, sending water splashing

everywhere.

She looked pale and unsteady.

Timothy hurried over and caught her before she could fall. "Jessy, what's wrong? Are you feeling sick? Let me take you to the hospital."

She tried to shrug him off, but a sharp pain twisted through her abdomen, leaving her too weak to resist.

Vince rushed over, gently prying Timothy's arm away and wrapping his own around Jessica's shoulders.

In a faint voice, Jessica muttered, "Vince, make him leave. I don't want to see him."

Timothy's heart pounded in his chest. "I'm not going anywhere! You're sick, Jessy. Let me take you to see a doctor."

Jessica shot him a cold look. "I don't need your help. Just go."

was barely holding herself together, her words came

turned to Timothy. "Didn't you say you were going to change? She doesn't want to see you, and

long moment he finally turned and left the room, his steps heavy with

was gone, Vince helped Jessica over to the bed next to Daisy's and

my medication. I'll be fine once I take it. I just left my bag in Grandpa's

hurried down the hall to Larkin's room, where their parents were keeping vigil. When Zachary saw him, he said, "Vince, why don't you take your mother and Jessy home to rest

go get

Jessica's bag and returned to the room. He poured her a glass of water and

swallowing them with a

you and Mom home. Are you up for it? If you're not, stay here and I'll just take

sees me like this, she'll only worry

voice softened. "Alright, I'll take Mom and then come back for you. Jessy, don't be scared. The test results will come quickly, and once they're in, I'll take you abroad for the surgery. You're going to get better. I

to lose her now. No

even taken her as her goddaughter. With

nor Mrs. Zimmerman protested, so Vince took Mrs. Zimmerman home to

left the hospital. He stood outside the entrance, smoking nervously, watching as Vince led Mrs. Zimmerman out to the car. Once they'd driven