kriadydragon | Of Regrets

Drabble for

wildcat88. Prompt: John Sheppard's biggest regret. Still more than a hundred words but way shorter than the last one.

“What is your biggest regret?”

John would have tolerated the question if it had been narrowed to specifics: specific mission, specific past trauma, specific reaction. Heightmeyer is usually specific, but has obviously run out of specifics. She's being general, going for prying him open rather than picking him apart.

Sheppard doesn't mind her attempt. He hates the question because it's purpose for today is so damn pervasive. His biggest regret. So where, exactly, would she like him to begin? His dad, wife, Holland, Sumner, waking the wraith, Kolya, Ford, Carson, Elizabeth... See, the problem with regrets is that the ones you make today will be forced to contend with the ones you make tomorrow. Most people don't work out their regrets until they have no more tomorrows left.

John smiles beatifically. “I'll have get back to you on that.” Then he leaves when the digital clock reads twelve pm.

The way he figures it, he'll either have plenty of time to sort it all out, or won't have any time at all. Hopefully the latter. He doubts he'll be able to choose between them, and doesn't really want to.