On the job, the secretary suddenly felt awful, so she stepped outside for a breath of fresh air. She plopped herself down on a park bench, closed her eyes for a moment, and when she came round, a rather ancient gentleman was fiddling with her wrist, seemingly trying to remove her gold bracelet
Oi, what on earth are you doing? Thats a present from my husband! The old boy looked properly terrified and murmured, Youve fainted because of this bracelet. Take a look yourself. The secretary stared at her wrist, instantly frozen in horror. 🫣
Emily nearly keeled over right in the middle of the meeting.
At work, the secretary suddenly felt poorly, prompting her to slip outside. Taking a seat on a bench, she closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, there was this pensioner attempting to liberate her golden bracelet.
Shed been perched next to the boss, taking diligent notes, pretending she wasnt absolutely knackered. The conference room was stuffy, the air sticky as a jam sandwich. A pounding started up in her temples, her heart galloping faster than a London taxi during rush hour. Emily took a deep breath, but it didnt help; chest tightness squeezed her like the last tube of toothpaste.
The world swam. Emily grabbed the edge of the table, apologised quietly, and stood up, legs wobbling like jelly. The boss said something, but Emily hardly heard a word.
Outside, the cool air slapped her face, but somehow, she felt worse. She managed a few steps, then collapsed onto a bench in a small park, eyes shut, hoping everything would just settle itself.
Her heart was going mad.
When Emily cracked her eyelids open, she saw a gentlemaneasily in his seventieshovering above her. Flat cap, battered jacket, a face lined and kindly, peering intently at her wrist.
What are you doing? Emily croaked, trying to yank her hand away. Leave it alone, thats a gift from my husband.
He didnt argue; he only whispered:
On the job, the secretary suddenly felt awful, so she stepped outside for a breath of fresh air. She plopped herself down on a park bench, closed her eyes for a moment, and when she came round, a rather ancient gentleman was fiddling with her wrist, seemingly trying to remove her gold bracelet
Youre feeling like this because of the bracelet. Look closely.
Emily stared at the chunky gold bracelet she never took off. Her hair stood on end as she realised: More in the comments
The gold had turned black wherever it touched her skin. Not everywhere, just in patches, as though someone had smeared it with soot.
Who are you? Emily whispered, stomach twisting.
Im a retired jeweller, the old fellow replied calmly. Forty years working with gold. When I saw you looking so ill, I happened to glance at your handmost folk wouldnt notice.
What does it mean? Emilys voice shook.
Its the trace of thallium, he said quietly. Nasty stuff. You cant see it with the naked eye. A thin layer is appliedit absorbs through your skin and poisons you slowly. But gold reacts. It darkens.
You mean
He nodded.
On the job, the secretary suddenly felt awful, so she stepped outside for a breath of fresh air. She plopped herself down on a park bench, closed her eyes for a moment, and when she came round, a rather ancient gentleman was fiddling with her wrist, seemingly trying to remove her gold bracelet
The person who gave you that bracelet knew exactly what they were doing. They wanted you ill, weak, and eventually, well… to simply never get up.
Emily stared at the jewellery, then at her hands. Images of her husband flashed in her mindhis chilly stares lately, faux concern, and those persistent words: Wear it, dont take it off. Its from me.
At that moment, the penny dropped.
The old man carefully removed the bracelet and wrapped it in a handkerchief.
You need to get to the doctorand the policestraight away, he said. And whatever you do, never put that thing on again.
Emily nodded silently. She sat on the park bench, hands trembling, realising shed just narrowly dodged disaster.
