HARMONY

Part 15 "Only the truth can hurt this bad"

Value.  Does anyone really understand what is valuable?  Is it marked on a price tag?  Is it something you give what you own?  What would happen if everything you thought you owned was really owned by someone else?  and one day, without warning, they came.  And took it.   

Michelle was still lying on the couch when Drew walked in. Black mascara trailed down her cheeks. He glanced her direction and then headed to the kitchen. The refrigerator door opened and closed—as did a series of cupboards.

"Drew," Michelle called, her voice raw and chocking. "I can make you a sandwich."

"Not hungry," he said and charged past her up the stairs.

Another series of tears flowed down her cheeks. "I bought your favorite maple turkey," she said barely audible even to herself.

She leaned over and picked up her phone. Walking into the office, she closed the door and sat heavily behind the desk. 

She dialed.

"Ya," Chad said.

"Hi, I heard from Steve," she said.

"Awesome, he's alive."

"He was saying something about transferring money for a plane ticket from Fresno and that you'd know what to do."

"A plane ticket from Fresno?"

"It was a very disconnected conversation." Michelle took a deep breath. "He said we might be having some financial issues."

The line was silent.

"Chad?"

"Ya."

"What's going on?"

"Well, I'm not sure about Fresno, but," he paused, "you're in some financial, um, trouble."

"Tell me what the hell's going on."

"Are you sitting down?"

"Tell me."

"Steve hasn't made a dime in over six months," Chad said. "There's no money left. Anywhere."

"How can that be?"

"Michelle," Chad said. "You're totally and completely broke. I don't know how else to explain it to you."

Michelle collapsed into the chair, her arms dropped to her side and the phone crashed to the floor.