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

ache pressed against

every time he left her behind without a word-just walked away- she had felt

Until you taste someone else's pain for yourself,

could finally see why Jessica was so determined to

had been the

them, but it had forced Jessica to see

had been

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

they were little more than an

The knowledge stung.

would yell at him, curse him, hit

But she didn't.

a few words, and only

she wouldn't even mention it

she quietly bore it all on her

stepped back into the

Dad, I want to visit a friend who helped me

Mrs. Zimmerman nodded. “Your

us

invite him over sometime? We'd love to thank

out

your hometown,

see him today and

ourselves. Let the driver