She clapped her hands.
Someone brought out a box, tossing the contents onto the deck one by one.
A folder. A notebook. A stack of business cards.
Then she pulled out a photograph.
It was a photo of my mother.
Taken before she died. The bankruptcy had drained her completely, left her so thin she was barely recognizable.
It was the only photograph of her I had.
Lydia held it between two fingers and read aloud what I'd written on the back: “Mom, I miss you so much.”
A few people laughed.
She let go.
A gust of sea wind caught the photograph, swept it over the railing and into the ocean. It was gone in a blink.
“No——”
I lunged for it. My hands closed on nothing.
I turned and glared at her, my eyes burning red.
“You……”
Lydia leaned in close, her voice so soft only I could hear it.
“Don't start crying yet, Ms. Lambert. I'm not done.”
Everyone was about to scatter when she let out a sudden shriek.
“My necklace! My necklace is gone!”
Ferris spun around immediately.
“What necklace? What happened?”
Lydia's eyes brimmed with tears.
“It's a pearl necklace my grandmother left me before she passed. It's not worth much, but it means everything to me.”
Ferris's expression darkened. He called the cruise ship's security over at once and ordered them to search.
That was when Lydia raised her hand and pointed straight at me, tears rolling down her cheeks.
“I saw you go into the lounge. You took it.”
I clenched my fists. “Lydia! What would I want with your necklace?”
Lydia cried harder, her voice shrill and pitiful.
“Because you're jealous of me. You think I stole your position!”
I turned to Ferris.
He hesitated for only a second before looking at me and saying,
“Just give it back to her.”
I couldn't move. It was as if I'd been nailed to the deck.
Lydia stood behind Ferris and pointed at me.
“Strip her. The necklace is on her somewhere!”
Security walked toward me.
I backed away.
“What are you doing?”
They forced me to the ground.
I struggled to break free, but several pairs of rough hands tore at my clothes.
I screamed until my throat gave out.
“Ferris! Ferris! Tell them to let me go!”
Ferris hesitated for a moment, then turned his face away.
I lay on the deck, exposed, left in nothing but my underwear.
Some people gasped. Some looked away. Some quietly raised their phones.
I don't know how long it went on before they finally released me.
I curled up on the deck, shaking all over.
Lydia reached into her own pocket and pulled out a pearl necklace. She looked down at me.
“Oh, here it is. Sorry about that, Ms. Lambert. My mistake.”
Ferris stood beside her. His tone carried a hint of exasperation.
“Try not to be so careless next time.”
The two of them walked off laughing.
The crowd dispersed.
I pulled myself off the deck and walked to the railing.
The ocean was pitch black. I couldn't see a thing.
Six years. I was so tired.
Mom, Dad. I'm coming to find you.
I climbed over the railing and jumped.
The moment I closed my eyes, I finally felt at peace.
