Whispers Turn to Whimpers: Could He Ever Change?

Across the street, Gilbert sat frozen in his car, his eyes wide with shock.

A young, beautiful woman was holding an adorable baby doll, both adorned with identical Minnie Mouse hair clips.

One for each of them!

Gilbert's breath hitched, his grip on the steering wheel so tight his knuckles turned white, as if they would snap off at any moment!

As the mother-daughter duo walked further away, Gilbert, without making a sound, got out of his car and started following them quietly.

Getting closer, he could hear their conversation.

"Let's head back home."

"Mommy, the strawberry milkshake was so yummy! Sweet as candy."

"Yes, darling, just like you, Jenna."

Their voices were soft, filled with the intimate chatter of a mother and her daughter.

But to Gilbert, each word felt like a meteor crashing into his heart, leaving craters of pain and disbelief.

Unaware of the silent follower, the woman and her child entered an apartment complex and disappeared into the building.

Gilbert stopped in his tracks, hesitating at the entrance. His mind was a whirlwind of emotions, his heart felt like it was about to burst. Mommy... Jenna...

Reaching into his pocket, Gilbert pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag. His lips pressed tightly together as he exhaled a thick cloud of smoke through his nostrils. The burning nicotine blurred the complex emotions etched on his handsome face.

of people who bought the Minnie Mouse hair clips! Because she was wearing

She was Jenna's mother!

once queued up at TeeMall in the middle of the night, just to buy a

end, it was he who

Crestwood Airport, she had that very

Sherilyn had to come back early from a

returned to Crestwood around

little one had even told him

Huh.

lips curled into a bitter

had been

up his phone

"Mr. Gilbert."

to the hospital,

"Alright, Mr. Gilbert."

Gilbert remained silent, smoking one cigarette after another, extinguishing the last one in the ashtray atop the trash bin it was now full of butts, all

he needed the

dialed

Sherilyn hadn't

"Hello?"

the ringtone ended,

"It's me."

she held the phone, "I

didn't reply to her