Chapter 3 - THE COWARD IN THE SHADOWS
The young woman raised her chin.
She looked past the older woman, gazing toward the dark wooden entrance of the boutique.
The warm golden lighting seemed to cast long, skeletal shadows across the Persian rugs lining the floor.
Her lower jaw tightened, the muscles flexing sharply beneath her skin.
Child logic flashed through her mind, sharp and absolute.
If you throw a toy away because it’s broken, it means you don't know how to play.
If they give back the green rocks, they are just giving back the heavy box.
You can't build a house out of shiny stones if the foundation is made of sand.
She shifted her weight, the silk of her emerald gown whispering against her shins.
"Keep your jewelry."
Her voice was crystal clear, cutting through the heavy silence of the boutique like a diamond cutter.
"And take your cowardly son with you."
The older woman stepped back, her beige shoulder pads hitting the edge of a glass counter.
The color drained entirely from her face, leaving her skin a ghastly, translucent grey beneath her expensive makeup.
The young woman didn't wait for a retort.
Her right hand dropped to the small clutch dangling from her wrist.
Her fingers slid inside the velvet pouch.
Her fingertips brushed against the smooth, cold glass of her silver smartphone.
She gripped the device and pulled it out.
The screen illuminated her face with a harsh, white light, casting a stark contrast against the warm, luxurious tones of the store.
She tapped the screen twice with her thumb.
A contact opened.
May you like
She raised the phone to her ear, pressing it firmly against the side of her head.
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