A Sacrifice Hidden For Three Years

Sparks

that day still feel

after my night shift, the city

weariness that had been my const

climb into bed and escape the

a luxury I c

ing against the nightst

you need to come back. Now. There's a si

dled brain

formed in my s

hands trembling as I

o run, to hide-but duty, and a morbid cu

g? It's stolen! My three-million-dollar diamond earring

our room besides the cleaning lady-who's already been thoroughly que

ke off your clothes.

caught in

vely looked

his eyes cold and unyielding-offeri

He was allowing

vastating blow, a fresh

front of him-how could he poss

watching silently

is voice bordering on pleading. "Just co

g tightly to my chest, my

spite the tremor in my hands. "I won't submit to a degrading search. If

t our earrings back, and we want them now. And don't pretend you weren't acting suspicious last night-sn

nged forward, her hand reachin

bag tighter. "No! Get your hands off me!" M

ger, fueled by se

ank, she tore the

pended it, scattering my meager be

rror, and a small, iridescent crystal moo

ixed on t

I'd bought years ago at

te, tinkling sound that echoed i

unexpected pain

ttle crystal moon held a piece of

had been distant and c

t, his eyes fixed on

-crack in his icy comp

and when he spoke, his voice was low

We'll buy you new earrings. Bette

d. "And you-make sure Ms. Cabrera is co

l was final

aving just the two of us

nspoken words, with the

r-separated by the wreckage of my spilled belongings

as deafening,