The earring is antique gold with garnets and seed pearls. I search for its twin amongst the pillows and tangled sheets. Scanning the bedroom floor, I give up. How sad. One earring is like one shoe—totally useless. But I don’t care because the earring is not mine. I’ve flown 2,000 miles to visit my fiancé who is in law school. He doesn’t know I’m here. The front door slams. I put on the earring. He appears in the doorway. “Surprise,” I say. His smile fades. I flip my hair over my shoulder so he can get a better look.
Gail Mackenzie-Smith is a screenwriter who also loves to write short short stories. She lives in Los Angeles.