Regrets...

A busy Monday in the summer of August. The world struggled to get through the hot sunrays and escape the heat. The few birds to be seen in the city jumped from one puddle to another, looking for the few drops of water available in them. Almost 12:00 pm, and the high schoolers were rushing to catch up with their classmates from different sections to grab snacks at their favorite spots while gossiping. Amidst them is Tannie, the silent and reserved girl who seems to enjoy the stories of her beloved friends while avoiding talking much about herself. "Are you coming for the party tonight?" someone from the group asked, expecting a positive response. But Tannie, as always, nodded her head from side to side with her usual response, "got some stuff to do." Her friends didn't try to force her, guessing from her reaction. Meanwhile, as they were trying to go back for the classes, a black car came by the cafe where Tannie and her friends were sitting. Without delaying, Tannie grabbed her school bag and jumped into the car. The car drove away as Tannie's friends watched it eventually vanish from their sight. Her friends were worried but not surprised as it became a normal sight for them since they were in middle school. "She is again at it, isn't she?" Tannie asked. The chauffeur felt uncomfortable answering the question. Tannie didn't ask twice and leaned back on the car seat.The car stopped in front of a huge mansion with fountains and a garden. It dropped her in front of the main entrance of the mansion and went away. Tannie entered through the door and crashed her school bag into the couch. She ran upstairs while mumbling, "What is wrong again!? Didn't she take her medicines? Who the fuck was in charge today?!" Tannie opened the door, and in front of her was a huge mess! Everything was shattered as if the room was hit by a huge storm. And amidst this whole mess sat a woman, pale skin; a white satin gown and a stream of blood flowing through her left wrist... Tannie paused for a moment in utter disbelief seeing the condition of that woman. At once she ran towards her, simultaneously screaming for help. The workers rushed to the room. "Mom!", Tannie screamed again. The woman fainted in her arms as she tried to help her up. She was rushed to the hospital immediately."Name?" the nurse at the reception asked. "Tyler Williams," a well-built man in his mid-40s replied. "What's your relation with the patient?" she asked again. "I am her husband," he replied. "She is admitted in the private room. You may go and see her. Please do not disturb her rest," saying this, the nurse showed him the way. The man immediately rushed to see his wife.Mr. Williams opened the door and saw Tannie sitting beside her mother. Poor Tannie looked at him with her eyes as two pools of deep water. Tears started to roll down her cheeks as the helpless child ran toward her father. She hugged him tight and started weeping until her eyes couldn't produce anymore tears. "Why was I born, Dad? It would have been better if you didn't marry Mom because of me. It was all my fault! I wish I could vanish! Mom regrets me... Mom regrets us!!", Tannie spoke breathlessly while hugging her father.Tyler gently wiped away Tannie's tears with the cotton handkerchief he carried in the back pocket of his pants. He sat Tannie on the chair beside him and said as he caressed her hair, "No darling, Mom loves you. Now, we love us. She just needs some rest for now. She will be fine once she sleeps well, okay? Now don't worry and go home with the chauffeur. Don't forget to do your homework, okay?" Tannie nodded yes and left the room quietly as Tyler watched her leave with a fading smile on his face.He walked towards his unconscious wife lying on the hospital bed. He felt a chill as the bandaged wrist of hers caught his eyes. He stopped right beside her bed and sat on his knees. He gently held her hand and kissed it. Tears started rolling down his face as he looked at his pale and thin wife. "Nora," he spoke with a gentle voice. "Please....please let's stop now. Okay? Please...please....I beg you. Think of Tannie once...she is our only daughter!" His voice got louder as he continued to weep, "It's been more than 23 years! Why can't you forget him? I have been asking for your forgiveness each and every day since that day...can't you even consider it once! Forget about me....Our Tannie! that poor soul is your own flesh and blood, she is innocent...! Can you stop being so harsh on her just for one day!?" Tannie leaned on the wall outside the room with tears dripping down her face as she overheard her father talking to her mother.Nora gently lifted her eyelids trying to differentiate reality from hallucination. She heard her husband's every word but there was no reaction in her face. Tears rolled down the corner of her face without a word coming out of her mouth. She got her hand released and turned away from her husband without uttering a word. Tyler felt helpless as he could do nothing but accept his cursed fate.Nora slept with her body faced towards the window looking into the zero. She was just breathing; no desire, no hope, nothing. She was desperately waiting for her days to end and break free from the bonds of the universe. She lived her whole life with regrets. With every breath she took since birth, all she had collected were not sweet or bitter memories but a bunch of regrets. Her life had only been miserable as far as she remembered.Nora had Tannie when she was barely 23 but there were rare memories of them together in her mind. She didn't have any hatred for anyone in her heart except for her own husband. Sometimes she would recall her first day of high school when they first met. She cheerfully befriended him, and they became good buddies real soon. Their classmates would often ship them together for fun. But looking at the time now, she would often wonder if there even existed such times in her past... She often has sleepless nights remembering the Friday night 23 years ago. That night has been the biggest regret of her life and made her into what she was today. She was left with nothing but enormous hatred for her husband and her life!...