His Biggest Regret Was Me
Charlie slowly turned the pages with lightly trembling fingers.
On the front page of the beauty section was a photograph of Elena, looking magnificent and regal as she attended the Aethel Corp gala inauguration in Paris. Beside it was a smaller photograph of Leo, smiling brightly, free from every burden.
The moment Charlie saw the smiles on his wife and son's faces, a warm tear slipped down his gaunt cheek and landed upon the rough newspaper. His chest shook violently as he struggled to contain the despair that mixed with an overwhelming sense of relief. His shallow breath came out painfully, as though his soul were being torn apart between longing and reality.