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 and

ache pressed

he left her behind without a word-just walked away- she had felt exactly like he did

people are. Until you taste someone else's pain for yourself,

see why Jessica was so determined to end

arrival had been the

forced Jessica to see just how

been right

son had needed her, she treated them like treasures,

when they didn't need her, they were

The knowledge stung.

at him, curse

But she didn't.

words,

wouldn't even

she quietly bore it all on

stepped back into

want to visit

Mrs. Zimmerman nodded. “Your

told us about

you invite him over sometime? We'd love to thank him

grandfather's out of

visit your hometown,

I'll see him today

ourselves. Let the driver