To The Man Who Let Her Go

17

"Mom Archie told me I could walk Pongo today, so I'm gonna go over now," Henry said as he walked down the stairs.

He opened the front door, expecting some type of retort from his mother but received nothing.

"Mom?' he questioned as he peeked back inside.

With no response he shut the door and began to search for the women who adopted him.

"Mom? Are you here?" He asked as he walked around the foyer and kitchen, "I don't remember hearing her leave."

With no sign of her he went upstairs to check the rooms and there she was buried in sheets and pillows.

"Mom are you ok?" He asked approaching her, "Are you sick?"

"You could say that," she groaned as she tried to sit up, "Have fun with Pongo sweetie."

Henry rolled his eyes as he hopped in bed next to his mom, "What's with the sulking and self loathing Regina?"

"Regina? Since when- ugh nevermind," she groaned.

"See now I know something's wrong because you would've never let me get away with that."

Regina shrugged and rested her head on Henry's shoulder, "Why are you here Henry? For the last year and a half you've been trying to get away from me and to Emma what's different now?"

He rested his head on hers and gave a small smile, "The difference is now we want the same thing. Emma."

"It's too late for that Henry I messed up really bad, and there's only one way to fix it," she sighed.

henry gently nudged Regina's head off his shoulder so that she was sitting up. He shifted his body so that he could lay down and his head lay in her lap. He then grabbed her hand and laid atop his head.

"Really?" she asked with the quirk of her brow.

Henry smiled and nodded, "You seem like you really need it."

She smiled back as she started to run her hands through his hairs. She used to love "petting" his hair as she called it. It was one of the things that soothed him as baby/toddler. He used to cry and cry but when she started to pet him he would instantly calm down. As he got older it became more soothing for her and more annoying for him. About a year or two before he found Emma he requested she stop and she assumed it was because of his evil queen theory. She ran her fingers through his hair and instantly felt better. It felt like old times again.

"You know Archie always had me write a letter to the person or thing or whatever it was that was bothering me. Then we'd either burn it or sail it into the Atlantic at the docks, and I always felt somewhat better. Maybe you should try it for whatever is bothering you aka Emma," he said looking up at her.

"I wish it was that simple Henry but my problem requires a little bit more than just writing a letter," she told him.

He shrugged as he got up from the bed and his mothers embrace, "It wouldn't hurt to try. Anyway sorry to cut the hair petting short mom. I know you like to do it but I should really get over to walk Pongo. I'll see you later."

"Bye Henry," she said with a wave of her hand.

She sat and thought over Henry's words. What was really bothering her? The easy answer was Emma, but Emma didn't make her miserable, the absence of Emma did. So who really was to blame? Herself? Psht no never. Regina Mills was only doing what was best. So who was to blame? Perhaps if Emma had been in a relationship when she had gotten here then maybe this all could've been avoided. That was it! The man who had Emma's heart before her could've prevented all of this if he had just stayed in her life. Now that she had pinpointed the source Henry's letter didn't seem so bad.

Regina grabbed a piece of paper and pen from her bedside table and pondered on what to write. After much contemplation she still had no idea what to write. She decided to just put pen to paper and let things spill out.

To the man who let her go,

Tell me, how did I ever get so lucky that she wasn't with somebody? when we met So I could have her for my own. I stay up thinking, how could anyone pass the feeling of the sound of her footsteps leaving & walking all alone? And still be sane the next day because I've sure as hell had a hard time adjusting. If you hadn't broke her heart I wouldn't feel this way.

I miss her beside me when I used to be thinking, why did you ever think to let go? I couldn't complain because your loss was mine to hold. And I just wanted to let her know she meant the world to me. She still does. But that means sacrificing our possible happiness together for her own with Henry.

Even though it didn't work out, I have one thing to say. To the man who let her go, I'm thanking you the most, because without you I would have never met the beautiful Emma Swan.

Sincerely
Regina Mills

Regina read her letter over and over again. Did it make much sense? No. But Henry was right it did name her feel better. Now all she had to do was burn it. She went downstairs and threw the piece of paper into the fireplace. As she watched the paper disintegrate she knew what she had to do...