Lost Me Gained Regret

The arrow hit the bullseye, though it wasn't exactly planned that way.

By the time the meeting wrapped up at the office, dusk was already creeping in. I had hitched a ride with Christine earlier in the day.

I was just about to call an Uber back to the hospital.

Christine offered to drop me off, and I shot her a sidelong glance, teasing, "I saw you texting Dailey during the meeting. Don't let me hold you back from... whatever's brewing there."

Christine's laughter was bright and beautiful. "Oh, what now? You've become a screen peeker?"

"Just happened to catch a glimpse."

I chuckled awkwardly, feeling a bit embarrassed.

During the meeting, she was seated diagonally to my left, leaning over the table to text. It was impossible not to see.

Just then, my phone rang. It was Gregory.

"All done with the meeting?"

His voice, relaxed and casual, flowed from the other end of the line, making me smile.

"Yeah, just finished. I'm heading back to the hospital to check on Ramona, then home."

identical to anyone her age. If I kept up my constant vigil at

said, "Then come on down. I'm waiting in the parking

"You're here?"

Webster from work is all in a day's duty

"I'll be right there."

hurriedly, "Go on, go on. Look at you,

in our faces every day,

"You..."

my nose, "You go get

that, I grabbed my bag from my office and made a

garage still held the

against his car, tall and

off a cool detachment. He had the look of someone who doesn't

seemed utterly carefree about the

aiming to surprise him, but before I could say a word, he suddenly stretched out an arm without even looking up, pulling me into his embrace with a chuckle,

me instead, "You didn't even look. Weren't you

"Not afraid."

hand caressing the small of my back, "A one-of-a-kind person can't

countered, "Isn't everyone

my cheek and looking deep into my eyes, "In my world, you're

free to