Regretful Reads Novels & Stories

Zachary broke down as he rushed over, wailing, "That's my daughter. Griselda has been living like a beggar for her whole life. She didn't even get the chance to call me Dad. She was only eighteen and died such a gruesome death…" While everyone still focused on him, he punched himself in a show of guilt. "It was all my fault. I failed to recognize you and caused you to suffer for more than a decade. I'll accompany you in your death right now!" A few people surged forward quickly to stop him. Zachary cried till his knees went weak. He only managed to stand up after two burly men helped him up. My calmness made me look downright evil in the face of his devastation. "Daisy is heartless. She didn

When I grabbed the diaper bag and picked up the tin of baby formula, I realized it felt unusually light. My heart sank. A wave of unease washed over me. I had bought this formula from abroad as Andy wouldn't drink anything else. I opened every tin of formula, only to find them all empty. Just as I was wondering where the formula had gone, Tara, who had woken up at some point, explained, "Noelle, I'm so sorry. It's my grandma's death anniversary. The sight of the baby formula reminded me of her ashes, so I poured them all out. Don't worry, though. I'll pay you back."

Tori’s voice was barely a whisper. “It was a mistake.” I exhaled heavily. “But you’re unhappy with your marriage.” “I’ve lived with that for the past three years, surely I can do that for a few more.” “Really? You’re going to do this?” “I ask again. How much to make you leave and keep quiet?” “I don’t want your goddamned money. You’re going to regret this.” She picked up her bag and walked out the door, slamming it behind her. I had to hold myself back from screaming my lungs out. Lately, I found myself doing things and regretting them immediately.

"Mom, you and Dad failed as parents. I'm just glad I wasn't raised by you and that I didn't end up like William. And forgiveness? That's not happening. "What really killed me was your indifference. If I had the choice, I'd wish I'd never been your child. But I won't let you die." I pressed my hand to her forehead and pulled away. "You'll live and spend the rest of your life drowning in guilt and regret." … I was sitting by the hospital window when Mom suddenly jolted awake. She ripped out her IV line and lurched off the bed, her face streaked with tears as she cried my name.

"Out of all this, your pain is what I regret most, and I will carry the knowledge of that hurt with me for the rest of my life, and acknowledge that I did that to you. Oh, don't get me wrong. I regret with every atom of my being what I did, regret folding to his demand, regret not finding another job, regret going to work for the company in the first place, even moving to this town. I regret so much. "But what I don't regret is every instant I spent with you. I don't regret a single moment of your sardonic wit, even when it was at my expense. You made me laugh so much and be so happy with our life together, even when we argued. I don't even regret a single tear I shed with you before today.

“Thanks for the package.” “You’re welcome.” “How did you know?” “You were limping throughout the day and I noticed the marks on your neck even though you tried to cover them up. I was too rough on you. Sorry.” “You don't have to apologize. I liked it.” The words came out of my mouth before I could stop them. He chuckled. “I’ll keep that in mind for next time.” Next time? I could tell he regretted his words too because of the way he went awfully quiet. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.”

"I was wrong, I know that. Just give me one more chance. Anna is dead. She didn't make it out of Level Three. There's no one left to come between us." I laughed, short and cold. "Rhett, you're the one who should never be forgiven. The truth is, you've never actually believed you did anything wrong. Give you another chance, and you'd make the same choices. You'd still go to that signing, and Ophelia would still die." He reached toward me, then let his hand drop. "Nora, I'm sorry. I regret everything." I looked up at the night sky and the stars scattered across it. "What is your regret worth, exactly? Can it give me back the years I lost? Can it give me back my daughter?"

You're comfortable there because that's where you have control; it's where you know the lay of my emotional land. Those voices of yours are drowned out by the loud thumps of my beating heart, the thumps that are my own cheerleading squad telling me to just try. Just. Try. Just Try. And I know myself now just as I am knowing more about you, is that what I don't want to feel, more than you in my head and my heart, is regret. Fear, you come and go. But regret, well, regret stays forever. And regret is the most unwelcome guest because, in most cases, I can prevent regret from coming into my home.