He liked to rub his fingers
Over the small tear-drop shaped pendant
That hung from a thin leather strap
Around his neck
He found it comforting
In times of unease
In times of stress
In times of doubt
In times of indecision
In times of no coffee
When he was 12
He found the pendant in a box
In the lost and found at Sea World
When he was looking for his jacket
Discreetly
He had palmed it
For no reason
Other than
He thought it was
Cool
A few weeks after it's acquisition
He discovered it screwed open
And small items, very small items
Could be stashed inside
A glittery flake of mica
One fang from a small snake
A curl of a girl's pubic hair
Scales from a fish
The corner of a cancelled stamp
Sand from a beach
For 23 years he had worn the pendant
For 23 years he imagined it protected him
For 23 years he warded off the woes of the world
For 23 years he believed it kept him safe
Then came the morning
He sat down to breakfast
A three egg cheese omelette
Four pieces of bacon
A note from his wife
A curl of a girl's pubic hair
Scales from a fish
The corner of a cancelled stamp
Sand from a beach
For 23 years he had worn the pendant
For 23 years he imagined it protected him
For 23 years he warded off the woes of the world
For 23 years he believed it kept him safe
Then came the morning
He sat down to breakfast
A three egg cheese omelette
Four pieces of bacon
A note from his wife
Goodbye
Was all she wrote
...P.S. I hate that stupid pendant you wear
Was all she wrote
...P.S. I hate that stupid pendant you wear
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