He''d walked right up to Jessica—a woman he''d never even met before—and
proposed to her on the spot.
Even now, he couldn''t forget the way she looked at him in stunned silence, her
eyes wide and searching.
Time seemed to freeze in that moment.
Waiting for her answer, he''d felt a strange mix of emotions—an unfamiliar struggle
twisting inside him. Would she say yes? Would she turn him down?
After what felt like forever, she finally smiled and nodded.
The tension in his chest unraveled in an instant, his heart swelling so wide it felt
as if it could contain mountains and rivers.
It wasn''t that he didn''t have feelings; he was just always so reserved, so careful
with himself.
That impulsive rush carried him all the way to the courthouse.
It was only when he stood there, marriage certificate in hand, the seal still fresh,
that it hit him—how reckless he''d been.
He told himself to calm down, to think.
That was when she brought up taking wedding photos.
He refused.
Now Timothy wondered if maybe, from that very moment, he''d already started to
hurt her.
"Timothy?"
Her voice pulled him back to the present. "You should go home," he said quietly.
"I''m fine."
He couldn''t let She get any closer to him. If things kept going this way, the
distance between him and Jessica would only grow.
She was stunned. Of all the things Timothy could have said to her, "go home"
was thest she''d expected.
Trying to hold herself together, she protested, "You''re hurt so badly—how can I
just leave you here?"
Timothy murmured, "She''s hurting more than I am."
"You mean Jessica?" She faltered, caught off guard. "Don''t worry, Vince told me
—she''s not hurt at all."
He knew Jessica wasn''t physically injured.
Her wounds were deeper.
Timothy was beginning to understand. His own injuries could be treated with
medicine and rest. But the pain inside Jessica—there was no cure for that.
For her to grab the steering wheel today, knowing her temperament, it had to be
more than a split-second impulse.
She really wanted out.
Maybe he should let her go. Maybe it was time to stop clutching that marriage
certificate like a shackle.
But every time he imagined letting go—releasing the kite string he''d held so tightly
—his heart felt empty, hollowed out.
His silence was driving She mad. They were in the same room, but his mind
was somewhere else—somewhere with Jessica.
Jessica was bing heavier and heavier in his world.
And he knew now that Jessica was Salome.
She felt as if an invisible fist was tightening around her heart.
She''d tried so hard, for so many years, but the man she loved was slipping further
and further away.
Finally, Timothy''s gaze returned to She. "Go home. Don''t make me say it
again."
His words were calm, but they crashed through She''s heart like waves
pounding against the shore, each one tearing at the wounds inside her.
She left in tears, her back straight and proud, but so utterly alone.
Timothy closed his eyes. His face was empty, emotionless.
Jessica and Herbert had left half an hour before Vince, arriving barely ten minutes
ago when Vince finally showed up.
Vince stared at the small, simple cottage, his heart aching for reasons he couldn''t
quite name.
At least the ce was cozy and weing inside.
Jessica invited Vince to sit in the living room. As she prepared some tea, Vince
took in the space, then finally asked in a trembling, hoarse voice, "Jess, did you
grow up here?"
There was something raw in his voice, and the way he looked at her—so intent,
so filled with an emotion Herbert couldn''t quite name—made the whole room feel
unsettled.
Vince made no attempt to hide how much he cared about Jessica.
"I used to live with my mom in the city. After she passed away, I moved in with my
grandmother. So yes, I suppose this is where I spent most of my childhood."
"It''s small, but it''s warm. Your grandmother must have loved you very much."
Jessica smiled softly. Yes, her grandmother had loved her deeply.
To treat Jessica''s mutism, her
grandmother had worked herself to
the bone. She''d been tricked and
taken advantage of, and the regret
of not being able to cure Jessica''s
illness had weighed heavily on her.
In the end, the double blow was too
much; she''d passed away with that
regret still in her heart.
Now, Jessica had finallye face-to-face with the man responsible. But she was
powerless to seek justice for her grandmother—not right away, not yet.
And he was She''s father. In the future, Timothy would probably keep getting
involved, for She''s sake.
Her whole life had changed since she met Timothy.
"Yes," she said quietly. "Grandma loved me. She taught me how to survive—she
was my hero."
Her father had abandoned her, but her grandmother never did.
Vince took a shaky breath. "Jess, do you have any childhood photos around
here?"
"I do."
Was Vince nning to piece
together her whole life story?
Herbert couldn''t take it anymore and
interrupted, "Mr. Zimmerman, it''s
almost lunchtime and my car''s
nearly out of gas. Mind driving me to
pick up some food?"
Vince could see the wariness in Herbert''s eyes, and relented. "Sure."
As he stood up, he turned back to
Jessica. "The other day, I sent you
and Daisy''s photo to my friends.
People keep saying you two look
alike. Just wanted topare your
childhood pictures—see if the
resemnce is real."
"Alright. You guys go pick up lunch—I''ll find the photos."
Vince headed out with Herbert. As Herbert pulled open the passenger door, he
said, "Get in."
"I thought you were almost out of gas," Vince replied dryly.
"Mr. Zimmerman, you''re a smart man. I''m sure you know exactly why I wanted
you toe with me."