5
At lunchtime, I packed my things.
On my desk sat the asteroid figurine Rick had given me when he graduated-he’d sworn I was his whole world.
I chuckled bitterly, then packed it away.
As I left with my boxes, Calista rushed in, anxious.
“Excuse me, everyone. I seem to have lost my necklace. Could you please cooperate with a search?”
Whispers rippled through the office.
“I saw Calista’s necklace this morning. The diamonds were huge, sparkling!”
“I think she’s downplaying it. Someone probably saw the necklace and stole it!”
“Goodness! A thief! That explains my missing snacks!”
Rick, beside Calista, had security lock the doors and began searching everyone.
My turn came. I set down my boxes, cooperating.
He saw the asteroid figurine on top, paused, then had my boxes emptied.
The contents spilled onto the floor, the figurine shattering-mirroring the six years of our relationship, irrevocably broken.
Security searched, then Calista gasped, “My necklace!”
All eyes turned to me, whispers and pointing followed.
“My Moon Goddess! Daisy stole the new director’s necklace! If Mr. Overton hadn’t locked the office, she’d have escaped!”
“Daisy! Hypocritical! She’s so petty about losing her promotion!”
“She’s a thief! Thank goodness she’s leaving!”
My face drained of color.
I hadn’t taken Calista’s necklace; someone must have tampered with my things while I submitted my resignation.
Rick’s face was thunderous.
He picked up the diamond necklace from the debris.
His disappointment was palpable.”Daisy-”
He roared my name, grinding my belongings under his heel, crushing the asteroid fragments.
He bared his canines, slapping me.”Apologize to Calista! Why did you steal her necklace?!”
I heard the dull crack of my bones.
My cheek burned, but a deeper pain, a cracking in my heart, was even worse.
Something was about to break free.
But I didn’t care.
He held Calista’s million-dollar necklace, while crushing my inexpensive gift beneath his feet.
Tears streamed down my face.
My colleagues’ misunderstanding paled in comparison to Rick’s slap.
He didn’t believe me?
Seeing my silence, he dragged me to Calista.”Apologize! Explain!”
A flicker of triumph crossed Calista’s eyes before she feigned concern, reaching out to help me up.
I brushed her hand away, standing on my own, defiance lingering.
Tears blurring my vision, my spine remained straight.“I didn’t take it! There are security cameras; I’ll prove my innocence!”
“And I wouldn’t steal a measly diamond necklace!” I stared into Calista’s eyes, each word precise.
