Goodbye, Mr. Regret

Timothy's gaze was sharp, almost piercing, as he looked deeply into Jessica's eyes. "It's because I'm afraid of losing her," he admitted, voice low.

He had made too many mistakes.

Now, he was at a loss.

All he could do was fight desperately, even if it meant hurting himself in the process.

In the end, everyone lost.

Timothy looked away, then bowed solemnly to Zachary and Mrs. Zimmerman.

"I never meant to keep this from you forever. I just hoped that by taking a roundabout approach, I could find a way to make things right with her again, bring her home myself, and deliver her safely back to you. But I've made a mess of everything. I'm sorry..."

Everything about Timothy-his posture, his words-radiated sincerity.

He was trying to change, to let go of his stubborn control.

He hoped, just once, to be forgiven.

But Jessica was unmoved.

Her face remained calm, expressionless, unreadable.

Zachary and Mrs. Zimmerman looked at their daughter, searching her face, but said nothing to Timothy.

Mrs. Zimmerman stepped up beside Jessica. "We're on the fourth floor. It won't take long to walk down. Let's take the stairs."

The three of them turned and headed for the stairwell.

where he was, defeated

ache pressed

a word-just walked away- she had felt exactly like he

for yourself, it's hard to truly understand

could finally see why Jessica was

arrival had

the misunderstandings between them, but it had forced Jessica to see just

had been

he and their son had needed her, she treated them like treasures, swallowed

her, they were little more than

The knowledge stung.

only she would yell at him, curse

But she didn't.

spoke a few words, and

wouldn't even

quietly bore it all on her

back into

parents had reached the car. Jessica said, "Mom, Dad, I want to visit a friend who helped me recover my voice. You two go home

Mrs. Zimmerman nodded. “Your

us about him-he

don't you invite him over sometime? We'd love

out

your father and I would like to visit your hometown, to pay

today and set

home ourselves. Let the driver take you to