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.

you can't put it out," he warned,

eyes immediately moistened. "You're not taking this seriously,

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

grasped his hand to check it; several trails of dried

one who promised you

a skirmish, ineffectively rationalizing, finally resignedly admitting with a helpless gesture, "I

headed towards the living

on time? What's this now, giving

kit, giving him a

Gregory obediently sat down.

I demanded, spreading out

his injured

the brighter living room

numerous wooden splinters

embedded deeply.

tempted to kick him; however, the sight of his hand softened my

hold back, kick if it eases your spirit, don't

thought? It's just that

it your foot

hadn't heard him, first washing off the dried blood, then

multiple checks and applying disinfectant, I reached for a bandage when Gregory spoke up, obstructing, "No

the bandage, silently

capitulated, "Alright, you

his hand