By Special English Group 1 (IV-Red)
~
Madamme Loisel hurried down the steps as her husband chased her hopelessly. She ran wildly, like a beast set loose, determined not to let her newfound admirers see her true state. She was ashamed of what she was, what she had.
They went home from the ball that way, Madamme Loisel constantly looking over her shoulder, conscious of others seeing her, Monsieur Loisel wondering what in the world was going through his wife's mind.
The day passed, and things seemingly returned to normal, but something had changed. Madamme Loisel, after seeing her husband off to work every morning, would open her jewelry case and finger the diamond necklace she had borrowed from Madamme Forestier. She would slowly reminisce that night when everything was how she wanted. She was the center of attention, the queen of the ball, and nothing could take her away from her fantasy.
A week later, Madamme Forestier was in town and decided to drop by her friend Madamme Loisel's home. After all, she did want to ask for that necklace she had borrowed.
Madamme Loisel was in her room, staring vaingloriously at her treasured jewel, when a knock came from the door. She hurriedly stuffed the necklace in the box, and rushed to the door.
"Oh, Madamme Forestier! Come in, come in!" Madamme Loisel smiled graciously at her guest.
"Mathilde, how are you? How is Monsieur Loisel?"
"Thank you for asking. I'm fine. The husband is away for a few days to visit a friend in the city."
Madamme Forestier did not want to waste any time in making clear the point of her visit, "Mathilde, remember that necklace I lent you a week ago?"
"Yes," Madamme Loisel was suddenly quiet.
"You still have it, don't you?"
Madamme Loisel looked down at her feet, wondering what to say. She loved that necklace more than anything, and she wanted it for herself.
"But it's all right, Mathilde, if you don't have it. Think of it as a gift from me, then if you've misplaced it, don't feel bad. It's nothing, really. Cost me about 500 francs, at the most."
Madamme Loisel looked up at her friend, and rushed to her side, "Oh, thank you, Madamme Forestier! How could I ever thank you enough?"
Madamme Forestier left the house feeling a lot richer. After all, it wasn't everyday one had a chance to help a friend in need.
~
When Monsieur Loisel came home two days later, he found the house silent and dark. It was night, yet nobody was home. Where was Mathilde?
He knocked on a neighbor's door, "Excuse me, but have you seen my wife?" he asked.
"Madamme Loisel, you mean? Ah, saw the poor thing run towards the woods the other day. Everyone saw her. Shouting at the top of her lungs."
Monsieur Loisel froze. His face turned pale, and he quickly ran in the woods' direction, before the old neighbor could say another word.
"Mathilde!" he called, "Mathilde!"
He searched for hours, and night eventually turned into day. He was about to give up when he heard a faint cry from behind him.
He rushed into the clearing to see his wife, shattered necklace in hand, arms cut and bleeding.
"Mathilde! What have you done?" he held her in his arms, kissing away the blood on her face and the tears washing it all away. Red streamed from her wrists, and revealed the bitter truth—Madamme Loisel was dying.
They sat there, man and wife, for what seemed to be hours. Madamme Loisel was grasping at her husband's face, jewel still in hand. She was cutting him, but he couldn't feel the pain. All he could feel was the life in his arms slowly yet surely slipping away from his grasp.
She struggled for a long time, crying out jumbled words, "I did not! I did not steal anything! No!"
His wife's body went limp in his arms, and Monsieur Loisel began to weep. Tears and blood mixed together, as they were destined to be.
