” Mark said one evening.”It’s probably just gossip,” I said, digging into the pancakes we were sharing. “You know how people talk in small towns.” “Maybe. But there’s something off about her. Have you seen the way she peeks out her windows?”I had. But I didn’t want to admit that it had unnerved me a little too. So I shrugged, buried myself in work, and tried to ignore the fact that every time I passed by her house, I could feel her eyes on me, watching, waiting. Then came the day everything changed. I was home, sick as a dog, something that rarely happened because, well, I didn’t allow myself to get sick. But there I was, curled up on the couch with a mug of tea, trying to ignore the gnawing headache that wouldn’t quit.I was just falling asleep when Max, our dog, stood up against the window and started growling. I sat up and that’s when I saw her. Mrs. Harper was sneaking through our yard with a small shovel in her hands. She stopped near the old oak tree, the one Max had been so obsessed with lately, and started digging. I shot up from the couch, ignoring the way the room tilted slightly from my sudden movement. “What the hell?” I muttered to myself as I stormed towards the door, barely pausing to slip on my shoes.Max was up and barking now, sensing my agitation. I yanked the door open and marched across the lawn, my heart pounding in my ears. “Mrs. Harper!” I called out, louder than I’d intended. She froze, her back still to me, the shovel halfway into the ground. “What are you doing?” She turned around slowly, her face pale, her hands shaking. For a moment, she just stared at me, her eyes wide with something I couldn’t quite place… fear? Guilt? It was like she was a deer caught in headlights, too stunned to move.”I-I wasn’t…” she stammered, glancing down at the hole she’d dug. “You weren’t what?” I snapped, more out of confusion than anger. “That’s our yard, Mrs. Harper. What are you digging up?”She didn’t answer right away. Instead, she kneeled down and pulled something out of the dirt: a small, weathered bag. It was caked with mud, the fabric frayed at the edges. Whatever was inside rattled slightly as she lifted it.Mrs. Harper’s hands trembled as she untied the knot securing the bag and opened it. My breath caught in my throat when I saw what was inside. Even under the layer of dirt, the objects in the bag caught the light, gleaming gold and glinting diamonds, all encrusted with earth but unmistakably valuable. This was no ordinary keepsake. These were relics, ancient-looking, like something you’d find in a museum, not in a neighbor’s backyard.Mrs. Harper let out a shaky sigh, her voice a strained whisper as she finally spoke.”My husband found these years ago, deep in the forest. He was always out there with his metal detector, convinced he’d uncover some lost fortune. I thought it was a silly hobby, something to keep him busy after he retired.” She paused, her gaze distant, lost in memories. “But then… he found something.” I glanced from the bag to her face, trying to make sense of it all. “So, he found… treasure? Out in the woods?” She nodded, her eyes welling up. “Not just any treasure. He believed it was from a forgotten era, something ancient and priceless.””At first, it was exciting,” she continued. “We thought we’d stumbled upon something that could change our lives forever. We didn’t tell anyone but somehow, others found out. Treasure hunters… they came sniffing around our property, trying to find what we’d hidden.” A cold chill ran down my spine. This was sounding less like an adventure and more like a nightmare. “What happened? Did they… did they try to hurt you?” She shook her head, but her expression was haunted.”No, not directly. My husband became paranoid. He hid the treasure out here, but the fear never left him. It consumed him, April.” Her voice quivered, and she wrapped her arms around herself as if trying to ward off the memories. “In the end, the stress of it all… it took him from me.” There was a lump in my throat as I listened. I didn’t know what to say, or how to even begin to process what she was telling me. “I’m so sorry, Mrs. Harper. I had no idea.”She gave me a sad, small smile, the kind that people give when they’re beyond the point of tears. “I’ve been living in fear ever since, guarding this secret. Every day, I’d wake up and wonder if today would be the day someone came for it. That’s why I’ve kept to myself, why I’m always looking out the window… I’ve been waiting for the other shoe to drop.”I stared at the bag, the weight of it seeming so much heavier now.This wasn’t just a collection of trinkets; it was the root of years of torment. “You can’t keep living like this,” I said, the words spilling out before I could think. “No amount of wealth is worth this constant fear.” She sighed, long and deep, as if releasing the tension of years in that one breath. “I know,” she admitted quietly. “But what do I do? If I give it away, what was it all for?” A silence fell between us, thick and suffocating.I could see the battle raging in her eyes, the need to hold on to something that had cost her so much, and the desperate desire to finally be free of it. “You should donate it,” I said gently. “To a museum, or… or something. Let it be someone else’s burden. Maybe then, you can have some peace.” She looked at me, her eyes searching mine for answers I wasn’t sure I had. “Do you really think that would work?” I nodded, feeling more certain as I spoke.”I do. It’s just stuff, Mrs. Harper. What matters is your life and your sanity. You deserve to be free of this, to live the rest of your days without looking over your shoulder.”She was quiet for a long moment, her gaze dropping back to the bag in her hands. Then, with a resigned sigh, she nodded. “You’re right,” she said, her voice firmer than before. “I’m tired of living in fear. It’s time to let it go.” A few days later, we were standing in the dusty back room of the local museum, waiting for the appraiser to finish his inspection.Mrs. Harper was beside me, her hands wringing together in nervous anticipation. I kept stealing glances at her, wondering if she was regretting her decision. But there was a resolve in her expression that hadn’t been there before, and I knew she was ready for whatever came next.The appraiser finally looked up from his examination, his brow furrowed in confusion. “I’m afraid I have some surprising news,” he said, his voice tinged with curiosity. Mrs. Harper’s breath hitched, and my stomach twisted in knots.”What is it?” I asked, unable to keep the anxiety from creeping into my voice. “These items,” he gestured to the collection of jewelry laid out on the table, “are not what they appear to be. The gold is a cleverly crafted but worthless metal alloy, and the diamonds… well, they’re just glass. Very convincing imitations, but imitations nonetheless.” I blinked, trying to process his words. “You’re saying… they’re fake?”He nodded. “Completely worthless, I’m afraid.”For a moment, the room was silent, the weight of the revelation hanging in the air. Then, unexpectedly, I started to laugh. It bubbled up from somewhere deep inside, a mix of relief and disbelief. I couldn’t stop, even as Mrs. Harper looked at me in shock. Then she started to chuckle too, the sound hesitant at first, then growing louder until we were both laughing so hard we could barely breathe. The appraiser looked between us, clearly perplexed, but that only made us laugh harder.All those years, all that fear and secrecy, all over a worthless hoax. It was absurd, ridiculous… and in that moment, it was the most liberating thing in the world. As we left the museum, the tension between us had dissolved into something lighter, almost joyful. Mrs. Harper turned to me, her eyes twinkling with newfound clarity. “Thank you, April,” she said, her voice soft but sincere. “For everything.” I smiled, feeling a warmth spread through my chest. “Come on,” I said, looping my arm through hers. “Let’s go share that bottle of wine I’ve been saving. I think we’ve earned it.”
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