Wheres my ringmy emeraldset one? Emily shouted, flinging the bedroom into chaos. She stood in the middle of the room, breath ragged, surrounded by overturned drawers and open boxes. Her hands trembled with rising panic. That ring had been her pridebought with the bonus from her first big promotion, a reminder of how hard shed worked to earn her place at the firm. And now it was gone.
I let out a weary sigh, finally putting my phone down.
Em, it cant just vanish. You must have misplaced it. Youll remember when youve had a rest, I said.
I know exactly where I left it, Emily snapped, eyes blazing. Only in the little jewellery box on the dresser. I never keep it anywhere else. You know that. I waved her off.
Itll turn up. Dont get worked up over nothing, I tried to calm her.
Nothing? Her voice sharpened. Its not nothing, Andrew. Its a valuable piece… It was Charlottes sister who took it. Shes the only one who could have done it! I frowned, set my phone aside, and looked at her with thinlyveiled irritation.
Youre being dramatic. Krista wouldnt do that.
Oh, really? Emily crossed her arms. Who else has been in our flat the past three months, rummaging around while were at work? I want her to bring it back straight away. Lets drive to her place now. I pressed my palms to my face, feeling the tension in my shoulders tighten, my lips line up into a thin strip. I didnt want the trip, didnt want a scene, but she wasnt backing down.
Em, maybe we shouldnt? Think about why shed want my ring, I suggested.
Its beautiful and expensive. Lets go. Now. With a sigh of exasperation, we packed and drove out to a village just beyond the city. Emily sat in the passenger seat, phone clenched in her fist, her mind a storm. Every kilometer felt like an effort. I kept silent, throwing occasional sideways glances at her, each one tinged with quiet reproach.
An hour later we pulled up at my parents house. The porch was quiet. Emily was the first out of the car and marched straight to the door.
Martha opened it, froze on the step, eyes wide with surprise.
Andrew? Emily? Whats happened? We werent expecting you.
Wheres Charlotte? Emily demanded, bypassing any greeting.
Shes at home, of course. She only arrived yesterday, my mother said, stepping aside to let us in. Come in, something wrong?
Emily walked into the sitting room where my father and sister-inlaw were seated. Charlotte looked up, her eyes widening.
Charlotte, you need to return my ring properly, or things will get bad for everyone, Emily said, planting herself in the centre of the room. A heavy silence settled. My father rose slowly from his chair.
Who gave you the right to behave like that in someone elses home? his voice was low and threatening. Are you accusing our daughter of theft?
Im stating a fact, Emily replied, her throat tight. My emerald ring disappeared after Charlotte left. No one else was in the flat.
My daughter would never steal! my mother shouted. Youre insulting our family!
My sister, explain where my ring is. Hurry up, my patience is running out.
I stood in the doorway, pale and silent, shifting my gaze between my wife and my sister. Charlotte suddenly broke into sobs, her lower lip quivering, tears welling.
I I just wanted to try it on a bit. Its so pretty. Did you think Id hide it? I thought you wouldnt notice she stammered.
Emily was speechless. Shed expected denial, outrage, maybe a tantrumnot this raw confession, as if she herself were at fault.
Feel sorry? Emily exhaled, fury bubbling up. Yes, I feel sorry! I spent three months of overtime to earn that bonus for the ring! And you just took it without asking! Its absurd, understand?
Emily, calm down, my father intervened. Youre blowing a mountain out of a molehill. Shes young, she just likes nice things. You already have everythinggood job, husband, flat. Let her keep the ring, and youll buy another.
Are you serious? You think she should keep something I bought with my own money just because she wanted it? my sisterinlaw protested.
Emily, be reasonable, my mother said, hugging her daughters shoulders. Charlotte didnt mean any harm. She admired your ring, dreamed of having one. Youve got it allcareer, husband, home. Shes just starting out. Dont be selfish. It isnt the end of the world.
I looked at Emily, hoping for a hint of support, a word of defence, but I only saw her shaking her head, avoiding my eyes.
Youre overreacting, Em, I finally said. Its just a ring, not the end of the world. As I spoke, Emilys hands stopped trembling. A cold calm settled over her.
She pulled her phone from her pocket, tapped a few numbers, and held it up to my mothers face.
Two minutes, she said, voice steady and cold. Either you give me the ring back, or I call the police. Your choice.
You wont dare! my father shouted, his face flushing.
Well see, Emily replied, unwavering.
Charlotte wailed, clutching at her mother. My mother shot hostile looks at Emily but said nothing.
The clock is ticking, Emily reminded.
Andrew! my mother pleaded. Say something! Stop her! I stared at the floor, silent. Emily smiled bitterly, reached for the call button.
Enough, enough! Charlotte shrieked, sprinting to her room and returning a minute later with a familiar velvet box. She shoved it onto the table in front of Emily.
Take your precious ring, you miser! she spat.
Emily opened the boxinside the ring sat, emerald glittering under the lamp. She closed it carefully and slipped it into the pocket of her coat.
I thought you were decent, Charlotte sniffled, wiping tears from her cheeks. But youre greedy and nasty.
Emily headed for the door, turned back at the threshold, eyes hard.
If Im that bad, why did I live in your flat for three months? I paid the rent, used your internet, your hot water. If Im that bad, why did you ask me to pay for your courses? Explain. She glared at my sister, who could only stare back, speechless.
I stood there, hunched, head down. The sight was pathetic. Emily said with contempt,
I never expected this from you, Andrew. Though, given your family, Im not surprised. She held out a hand.
The car keys.
I lifted my head, frowning.
What?
The car is mine too. I bought it with my own money. Hand them over.
Emily
The keys! she snapped.
I fumbled into my pocket and placed the keys on her palm. She clenched them into a fist and, at the door, turned one last time.
Ill bring your things tomorrow. And Ill file for divorce. She walked out without waiting for a reply.
A month later the divorce was finalized. Emily looked at the dresser. The jewellery box sat where it always had, the velvet cushion holding her emerald ring once more.
Her phone buzzed on the tableanother notification. She glanced at the screen: exfamily members branding her harsh, cold, the destroyer of a family, calling her selfish for not forgiving. She didnt reply. She simply added the number to her block list, as shed done with dozens of others.
Life without me turned out simple and easy for her. She no longer had to worry about my familys problems. Whether Charlotte found work or not didnt matter. She didnt care how my parents house would get through the winter.
Emily began planning a future just for herself, intending to spend holidays with those who truly loved her.
