Lost Me Gained Regret

I don't always want to be the worrywart. So I said, "Okay, I got it."

Bella spoke gently on the phone, "Alright, get some rest soon. A pregnant woman shouldn't be up too late."

"You too," I responded.

As I hung up and set down my phone, there was the sound of the door opening. I quickly made my way to the entrance, where Christine and Ramona exchanged glances. Ramona said, "Come with me, let's check on my garden flowers."

Christine was cooperative, "Sure thing."

Of course, the person returning was Gregory Ford.

I opened my arms to hug him, but he stopped me, holding my shoulders, "I'm dirty, I need a shower first."

That didn't sound right.

Even now, with a child on the way and my heightened caution about bacteria, his level of dirt seemed excessive for just running errands and not rolling in dirt at a construction site.

Just as I was about to inquire further, a small black vial caught my eye.

"Antidote?!" My eyes brightened.

"Mm-hmm," he replied, raising his eyebrows coyly, almost boastfully, "Am I impressive or what?"

He was trying to appear nonchalant, but my heart tightened in an instant. I didn't reach for the antidote immediately but instead began examining him for injuries, lifting his clothes.

It was when I discovered the blood on his arm that he suddenly grabbed my wrist.

fire if you can't put it out," he

"You're not taking this

Gregory instinctively reached to tousle my hair, trying to comfort me. He quickly thought better of it and withdrew his

firmly grasped his hand to check it; several trails of dried blood

the one who promised you wouldn't get

skirmish, ineffectively rationalizing, finally resignedly admitting with a helpless gesture, "I did indeed break my promise

turned silently and headed

"Didn't we just agree we'd communicate everything on time?

kit, giving him a stern

Gregory obediently sat down.

demanded, spreading out my

meekly placed his injured

the brighter living room lights,

numerous wooden splinters

embedded deeply.

however, the sight

it eases your spirit, don't spare a

just

your foot hurting, or your

off the dried blood, then carefully removed the splinters

reached for a bandage

the bandage, silently looking

capitulated, "Alright,

surrendered his hand