Lost Me, Gained Regret (Jane and Bryant Ferguson)

His voice, clear and unusually solemn, combined with the depth of emotion drowning in his eyes, made me forget to breathe.

My heart skipped a beat, yearning to nod in agreement, unable to muster any objection. But I wasn't in my early twenties anymore. After a few breaths, reason took over.

I pursed my lips lightly, "I think I want to wait... until all these things settle down."

Seeing the flicker of disappointment in his eyes, worried he might misunderstand, I couldn't help but explain, "These issues are like ticking time bombs. Whether it's Palmer, Dorothy Pearl, Kane, or the mastermind behind it all, having a child now would only give them and our worries more leverage. Gregory, I too wish for us to start a family soon, I believe we'll strive to be great parents."

"But not now."

"Jane,"

Gregory's lips curled into a smile, "Do you ever feel like you're talking like a player? Like I'm the young stud you're keeping."

I choked, unable to find a rebuttal.

In those clichéd affair stories, it seemed the men always promised the women: Don't worry, we'll have kids, but not now.

I wanted to defend myself, but then he started the car, gently saying, "I promise you."

I watched him closely, afraid of missing any sign of unhappiness, "Really?"

"Really."

He chuckled, steering with one hand while ruffling my hair, probing, "But this time, if it happens, can we..."

"We can."

He raised an eyebrow, "I haven't finished my sentence."

"I know what you're going to say."

I held his handsome, slender hand, ding, "Though the chances

softly

are slim, I promise you, if it happens, I'll do everything to protect her."

Truthfully, my anticipation for a child was as strong as his.

But compared to him, I was more pessimistic, preferring to wait for a sure thing before considering a child.

Arriving at the hospital, my grandmother was awake, stretching her limbs in the living room with the help of a nurse.

I entered, saying, "Ramona, how are you feeling? Better after the acupuncture?"

Even though Mr. Abdul's treatment

could slow the poison's spread, it couldn't entirely prevent its effects. Before this session, Ramona had felt numbness in her limbs again. en.swhovels.net

"Jane, you're here again," Ramona scolded lightly, "Didn't I tell you to go straight home after work? Why worry about me so much, look, I'm fine everywhere. If it weren't for you insisting on hospitalization, b could've been home by now."

We hadn't told Ramona about the poisoning, so she was eager to leave the hospital days ago if not for my persuasion.

I went over and took her hand, "I just want to spend more time with you, that's all."

"Then let me go home with you?"

Ramona asked like a child, looking to Gregory for support, "Greg, what do you say?"

"Ramona!" I sighed, "You should still..."

"Jane, maybe we should just take Ramona home?"