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CHAPTER 2 – Absence Makes the Heart Grow Wronger Link to Chapter 1 Most of the streets in that area of the city grid…
CHAPTER 1 – A World Filled with Glitter and Deceit I leaned into the glass case, lightly tapping my nails against the see-through counter…
CHAPTER 1
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A World Filled with Glitter and Deceit
I leaned into the glass case, lightly tapping my nails against the see-through counter top. I let the smell of commercial merchandise and prospering capitalism engulf me, pondering the cause of the sudden quietness. This department was always busy around now.
A man wearing a red cap walked up to the far side of the counter. He stared for a while, almost glued to one spot before inquiring about the cut of a diamond on the stand in front of him. I unlocked the cabinet, pulling out the rock atop a plain white gold band. I slid my glasses down to the tip of my nose, turning the ring in the light for good measure.
“It says princess on the label, but the way it sparkles, I think they’re ripping you off.” then glanced up to meet his gaze. “See?” I inquired as I guided the ring towards him, and he leaned in with piqued interest.
“You know, I think you’re right,” he said, pausing to look at my name tag. He put his finger to his lip in a thoughtful motion. “Stacey, do you have any other recommendations? With a similar price.” He stated firmly, aiming his finger back to the spot he’d been adhered to.
“Well, within this price-range there really isn’t anything much more spectacular than this. But I can just show you some of my favorites, and we can move on from there?” He smiled and seemed to relax for a moment.
“Right,” he sighed. I looked him up and down, then I walked over to the other side of the case and pulled out a ring with a magnificent white gold band and three tiered diamonds, with openings beveled in a way that made the band appear braided on the inside.
“This one’s a showstopper, no doubt.” I watched a gulp settle in his throat. “I bet I could find you something similar, with lab made diamonds instead?” He shook his head.
“That’s not happening, she’d have my head.” He reached towards his neck to loosen his nonexistent tie. “How much?” I glanced at the price tag and my heart raced.
“$7535-” The color drained from his face. “-but like I said, these are just my favorites. For fun,” I saved with a wink. He wiped some sweat from his brow.
“Is it rude to say I don’t want to go into debt for love?” Tilting my head down towards the case, I winced. Hoping he wouldn’t see.
“Maybe a little inappropriate.” I looked up and flashed a smile, setting the ring down on top of the counter. I walked around to the stand of the original ring he’d picked out, then grabbed the first ring I saw with the same setting and brought it over. “It would be unethical of me to suggest lying to your future spouse…” I slowly peeled the cheaper label from the ring and replaced it with the more expensive one. “But a labeling mishap made by a new employee? Oops, guess that goes in the red for this week.” I flashed a smile, and began ringing him up, making sure to leave the other ring on the counter. He stared at me in a daze before looking around and fumbling for his wallet. I smirked. Anything goes as long as no one’s watching. “Have a nice day,” I offered sweetly, in my best customer service tone. He frowned a bit, but waved me off, scurrying out the door, after acting as an accomplice to the crime of the century.
I picked up the ring left strewn on the glass and slid the band over my finger, inspecting it, before guiding my key set back into the lock and awaiting my next customer.
I spent another 4 hours in the same department before I spotted an opportunity to make my leave. I left the keys in the lock and came out from behind the counter, grabbing a rack of clothes and freeing the wheels from the confines of their breaks. As soon as I had stridden to an exit and was about to ditch the rack, someone stopped me.
“Hey! Wait!” They exclaimed. “Those don’t go there.” I spun around, coming face to face with a black collared shirt. I took a swift glance at the name tag on the way up to their face.
“Listen, Mike, take it up with Erik.” I twirled my finger next to my forehead, rolling my eyes for good measure. “I’ve gotta go on my break before I die of a diabetic coma,” I said casually, motioning out the door with my thumb. They had a question mark written all over their face but waved goodbye as I walked backwards out the door.
I lit a cigarette as I walked around the corner into an alley, finding the pile of trash that was a little too clean and dug around in a pile of cardboard to find my bag. When I grasped my fingers around its strap, I began walking further down the block, ignoring the thumping in my chest. I rubbed my own arms, in attempt to remove the dull static beneath my skin.
As I felt the pressure of each passing gaze detach from my back, I removed my name tag and my glasses. I took another glance around before taking off my wig, exposing the wig cap secured underneath. I slicked some heavy oil over the on my forehead and held the cigarette in my mouth as I slowly peeled the nylon cap from my hairline.
It was taking longer than usual to pry the damn thing off, and smoke started seeping out of my mouth and slowly into my eyes. The burning sensation that followed left my eyes blurry and watering. I was determined to keep the cigarette lit, so I persevered, silently willing the smoke to waft any direction but up, as I wiped my eyes with the backs of my hands in between tugging at the adhesive on my forehead.
I inspected the cap after eventually prying it from my hairline, scrunching up my face after witnessing the remnants of new hair growth still adhered to the nylon. I sighed and shoved the pile of hair into my bag, being careful to tuck what was left of my cap into my bra.
I extracted my legs from the confines of the tacky black slacks, revealing my treasure trove. I unzipped the pouch of my concealed fanny pack to reveal a collection of glittery vessels, but wiped the grin off my face when I noticed someone around the corner.
I spotted a dumpster a few blocks down, looking behind me one last time before shrugging the backpack from my arm. After ditching the backpack of disguise, I wiped my hand on my shorts, and hit the play button on my phone, breaking out into a steady jog. The wind whooshing around the alleyway was pushing me faster, each pump of my legs becoming lighter as I went.
I welcomed the breeze that intimately embraced my face and I picked up my pace to circle the block and go back the way I came. When the blare of a siren shot through an alley to my left, I spun around and started the other direction. I spotted a nearby building and ducked around the corner when I heard a crunch under my feet. By the time I’d shaken off the initial siren, I was nearly tripping over a woman wrapped in a busy shawl. She held on to me as she steadied herself.
“Oh my-” she released. “Well you’re a fast one, aren’t ya’?” I took a step back, feeling my ears and cheeks rush with the familiar warmth.
“A bit too fast,” I laughed, looking around to see if anyone was watching. “My bad,” escaped my lips before I could stop it, “for running into you, I mean.” I saved. Then she waved her hand in front of her face, batting a nonexistent fly.
When she took a beat to gather her bearings, her eyes met the heap of beaded rubble on the ground. “Well,” she sighed. “What are we going to do about this?” Her question was directed almost to no one, as she rested her worn hands squarely on her hips. I began digging through the pouch of my fanny pack. I ripped the label off the first ring I could grasp.
“Here,” I said, almost forcefully handing her a ring with a large solitaire stone. I glanced behind my shoulder and watched as blue and red lights flashed through another nearby intersection.
When I turned to face her, she was inspecting the diamond with the expertise and vigor of a jeweler. “Well, this is just too much,” she said suddenly. “All ya’ did was step on a few homemade beads.” She tried to hand it back to me, but I was simply unwilling to have this interaction weigh on me forever.
“We could trade for it?” I suggested, tapping my foot double-time to the beat of the music that was still playing in my ear.
“Well I can’t take somethin’ for nothin, but I can sure take something for somethin’ else,” She seemed more excited than disappointed that she hadn’t come up with the idea herself. I raised an eyebrow at the mess and she matched my gaze to the ground. “Not one of these crusty old things,” she said dismissively to the array of beaded jewelry, now strewn broken on the cement. When she turned around to survey her shopping cart of belongings, I took a moment to glance at the time. I was late.
Just as I glanced back up, she was twisting around to face me. I quickly shoved the contents of my hands securely into the pouch on my hip. “This right here,” She almost sighed, “This is my pride and joy,” a small metal box lay flat in the palm of her hand. “Never solved ‘er, ya see. Basically fresh outta the package.” I was encapsulated by the small puzzle box, now in my hand. It was beautifully engraved, and all the smaller pieces fit seamlessly inside each other, with no jagged edges, like fingers interlocking between themselves.
“Thank you,” I said, still not able to meet her gaze. The first lever I attempted wouldn’t budge. It was the same with the next, and the next. I had to try almost every side of the cubed metal to find one that moved.
“Pretty, ain’t it? Not half as pretty as that dazzler you gave me, but she’s got her own charm to ‘er.” When I looked up to say I had to be on my way, she was on the ground, cleaning up her necklaces.
“Thank you for the box. I’ll remember you when I solve it.” I gestured the box up in a cheers motion as I walked down the road the way I came. I stopped on the corner of 5th and Taylor and waited for a bus to come, the small metal capsule still in my grasp. Checking the time again induced a wince. I slumped into one of the provided seats and sighed to myself, praying that I would make it.
When the bus rolled to a stop in front of me, I tapped my pass on the sensor, and found a seat next to the window. After perching my feet behind the seat in front of me, I put in my earbuds again and began clicking every one of the puzzle’s levers at random.
The levers didn’t seem to do much on their own. The small engraved notches would stay secured in place when pulled in the right sequence. And with each incorrect pull, the box would clear any previous move. Every time I began to get discouraged, I would solve another portion before ultimately resetting it again. I felt as if I had become adhered to the metal. Pulling each pattern faster with every reset. The more I tried to solve it, the more I could feel the box transforming from cold inanimate metal, into something that was mine.
I became drunk on how powerful it felt to discover a new sequence. Forgetting each time how discouraging it felt to disrupt the pattern. I had gotten to the seventh sequential lever before I looked up and realized I’d missed my stop. I’d missed my stop by a lot.
I pulled out my phone, flicking through my contacts before aiming my finger at his name. It rang for a while, and I worried he wouldn’t pick up. “Let me guess,” he answered, “you need me to bail you out.” I scoffed.
“Please. It’s like you have no faith in me,” I fluttered back. He sighed, but I could hear his smile through the receiver.
“I definitely don’t have much faith in your ability to be on time.” He said, sternly. I thought I heard a laugh caught in his throat.
“To be completely honest, I don’t have much faith in that either.” I replied. He let the laugh escape him and I felt relieved I hadn’t imagined it. After placing the puzzle in my pouch, I pulled on the string next to my head.
“So what’s the ETA then?” The bus pulled to a complete stop and I exited through the back doors, waving at the driver before I bounded down the steps.
“If I run? Maybe 30 minutes from now.” I felt his disappointment through the phone.
“It’ll be dark by then.” He almost whined.
I raised an eyebrow. “So?” He let the air hang. “We could meet somewhere else if your phobia is going to cause you distress.” I teased.
“Ha-ha,” he added dryly. “I just wanted to show you something, that’s all.” He replied simply, but there was a meekness in his tone that put a pang in my chest.
“I’ll find another bus.” I began, running my hand over my face, trying to ward off distress. “See you soon.”
“See you soon.” After he hung up, music blasted through my earbuds again. I took a deep breath and started to sprint a block to my left.
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