The Earring
A Story Every Day in 2024 May 6th 127/366
Please note that this story is for May 7th, 128/366 in A Story Every Day in 2024. I have put the wrong day on it because I am a muppet.
The sun was deciding it was time to rise and its pretty pink fingers stroked the day into life. The light gave the day the air of a vintage movie, softly muted, as she walked across the dew-covered grass, barefoot, the chill of night's dewdrops penetrating her post-party fatigue and making her shiver.
She'd lost an earring and it was troubling her. She cut a glamorous figure, even at this early hour after the long evening of drinking and talking and dancing. She was gamine, her long red dress augmenting her shape and her graceful movement, as she crossed to where the staff were erasing all signs of any revelry off the lawn.
She had to find it. She had a feeling she knew where she'd lost it.
The memory of his lips on her neck shot a dart of longing through her and she had to stop as a surge of need so strong threatened to send her off balance. It must have been then. She must find the earring.
She moved more quickly. Everybody else was still sleeping, wherever they'd fallen. She could not rest, her mind constantly returning to her brief encounter, searching it out relentlessly.
He couldn't find out what she had done. He would be merciless. She shuddered as she thought of her husband and the threat he presented. He would notice if the earring was missing. He would guess. His thinking was suspicious and it penetrated like a probe, a noxious mist, searching for betrayal or disloyalty, seeking it out to expose it, and punish it. She felt her chest tighten at the thought of what he could do, would do, if she did not find it.
She was at the place. She looked behind her. Alone. She searched, carefully with her eyes only. It was dark but the early light would catch it.
Nothing.
Then a shadow. Her heart leapt. She didn't want to turn. What if it was him? But she was no coward.
A small figure. A hand outstretched. She reached and felt the earring as it fell into her hand.
"Madame", the cleaner said and nodded before walking off into dawn's soft light.
Relief flooded her.
***
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Comments (9)
Bad girls....need to be careful!
“His thinking was suspicious and it penetrated like a probe, a noxious mist, searching for betrayal or disloyalty, seeking it out to expose it, and punish it.” what a line of characterization! Let’s the reader in on the desperation and urgency in a very succinct but not overly specific way!
Thought your first line was phenomenal. Gosh - a lot of tension in so few words. I was really hoping she found the earring. Not condoning cheating at all, but it sounds like she needs a little fun in her life - or to escape. Great writing.
I wondered where you might take a lost earring and now I know. You brought the anxiety level right where it needed to be.
I was going to say something flippant like, "and that's why I make my own jewelry, so I can make a replacement when the need arises," but that makes it sound like I'd do that to my partner, and I would never. Love your short story. These lines are my favorites: "The sun was deciding it was time to rise and its pretty pink fingers stroked the day into life. The light gave the day the air of a vintage movie, softly muted, as she walked across the dew-covered grass, barefoot, the chill of night's dewdrops penetrating her post-party fatigue and making her shiver. She'd lost an earring and it was troubling her." I love how effortlessly the earring is mentioned, and that's the bit that's on her mind. Tells us so much about who she is in such few words. Powerfully conveyed!
A tiny intriguing and well written drama in the midst of a huge unwritten one. This felt a lot like picking up a book at the store and opening it and randomly reading a few pages before thinking 'this is interesting, I think I'll check this out.' Have any of the vignettes that you have written this year spurred you to consider fleshing them out? Maybe that could be a project for 2025? I, for one, would like to read more.
The cleaner preserves her dirty little secret? Smooth situational irony.
And so the situation proceeds unaltered
So let me get this straight. She cheated on her abusive husband?