The Charm Bracelet

The young lady physically shook with excitement as the jeweller took the silver charm from the glass cabinet.

'Yes, that’s perfect!' she squeaked, barely containing herself as she paid for the shiny ballet shoe.

The jeweller handed it straight to her knowing that she wouldn’t want a box. She never did. She came in almost every week, sometimes twice to buy a small charm every time. She immediately added it to her ever growing bracelet that looked so heavy on such a slender wrist. He enjoyed her coming in and always looked forward to her flirtatious smile. He had longed to ask her to dinner and for whatever reason he had found that courage today. He was pleasantly surprised when she agreed and made plans with him for that night.

She left smiling as always admiring it as she left. There must have been at least a 100 charms on the bracelet. The jeweller had asked once why she was so fond of collecting them and she had happily replied 'memories'. He never asked how many there were but it was already over a 100 and counting...

He watched her from the door as she headed across the street to the newsagents. She did this every time. Through the window she could see the paper stand and stopped briefly to read the headlines. She smiled admiring her work printed on the front page knowing the artist behind it was anonymous to the rest of the world.

The night before she had sat just as anonymously amongst hundreds of people as Emily Belle glided effortlessly across the stage. The dancer moved so elegantly, so gracefully that she instantly fell in love. She admired the ballet dancers strength as she watched her every move entranced. The beauty of her face with those determined eyes were captivating, and it was easy to see how she was named the Prima Ballerina of the Century. She had to meet her.

She left the theatre and entered the main lobby. It was filled with people rushing about trying to leave and was the perfect time for her to slip into the clearly marked 'staff only' door and head down the long corridor. She continued on down the stairwell and through another corridor which clearly hadn’t been used for a very long time. Apart from the dust it had been used as storage and the floor was filled with props lent against the walls. She struggled her way through without hurting herself or knocking anything over and only stopped for a moment when she reached the back of the stage from which she had just watched the performance. People were still milling about, tidying up props and she walked past them confidently with a nod that no one questioned her being there. She found the dressing room of the star very easily but didn’t go in. She held back and waited. When Emily finally emerged, make up removed and hair down from the tight bun it was originally in, she gave a quick smile to the young lady who had been waiting for her. Signed the programmed that was offered silently and continued on her way. The dancer had looked just as beautiful in plain clothes as she did on the stage as she carried on up a set of side stairs to the exit behind the theatre.

Now was her chance. She followed Emily out into the alley and produced a small knife from her purse sliding it straight across the dancers throat. She held her head, took a deep breath smelling the flowery shampoo scent of her hair and whispered in her ear 'It’s okay. You can dance in a better place now. I'm taking you away from this horrible world because I love you' Emily’s eyes closed as she slumped to the floor. She smoothed down the dancers hair pressed a gentle kiss to her cheeks and headed home.

As the jeweller was still admiring her looking through the window he heard the gentlemen say ' its sad isn’t it'

'What is?' he asked

'Haven’t you seen the news? he questioned as he handed him the days paper.

The jeweller shook his head.

'The Prima ballerina that was performing last night was murdered'.

The jeweller thought back to the charm he had just sold and all the ones before it. He thought of the headlines over the last few weeks and the story behind the charm bracelet began to click into place just as his date for the evening turned back to give him her most flirtatious smile yet.