Tilly, Nora’s cinnamon-colored bobtailed cat, abruptly woke Nora up by tipping her half-empty wineglass off the coffee table.

“Damn cat,” Nora fussed as she got up from her recliner.

She checked her cellphone before she cleaned up the mess. She groaned when she saw she had no new notifications.

“Why did she have to fucking inherit my damn stubbornness?!” she mumbled as she put her phone down. “All she needs to do is throw that damn necklace deep in the ocean!”

The waves rocked the yacht like one big cradle as a storm passed. Kierra’s stomach roiled as she tried to find her balance. She woke up in a puddle of spilled champagne. Her head throbbed furiously. She changed and pulled the covers over her head.

Annetta knocked. “Miss Bryne, good morning. I have brought you some breakfast and some aspirin.”

Kierra moaned as she peeked out of the covers.

“Just leave it at the door, please.”

“Yes ma’am,” Annetta responded. “Oh. The captain wanted me to inform you the storm has delayed our arrival to thirty minutes.”

“Okay, thanks.” Kierra exhaled heavily as she climbed back under the covers.

Buzzzz… Buzzzz…. Buzzzz

Her phone had been going off nonstop, but it had been out of sight.

Buzzzz… Buzzzz…. Buzzzz

The buzzing amplified her pounding headache.

Buzzzz… Buzzzz…. Buzzzz

She could follow the noise to find it and even use the necklace to stop the rocking, but she had no desire to deal with anything.

“I would rather deal with this nauseating boat ride than deal with anyone right now, anyway,” she thought as shame corroded her insides.

Kierra hated how her passion to be an amazing author and a decent person had slowly vanished since she came dependent on the power of the necklace. It had taken away the thrill and excitement of her new journey as a writer. She felt like a disappointment to everybody she loved. She closed her eyes and drifted away to when everything fell apart.

One month ago…

“I got this… I got this…” Kierra repeated internally as she fidgeted with the necklace. “I got my luck charm.”

“Mrs. Green is ready to see you now. Second door on the left,” said the receptionist.

“Thanks,” Kierra responded as she got up.

Her heart thumped harder and harder as she reached the door of Corine Green’s office and knocked.

“Please come in,” a silvery voice answered.

Kierra took a deep breath and walked in with a friendly smile. Corine Green stood up from her desk and walked around to shake Kierra’s hand.

“It’s so nice to finally meet you,” Corine smiled. “Your synopsis was quite intriguing.”

She was a lean, tall woman with a thick auburn colored curly pixie cut.

“Thanks. It’s such an honor to meet you.” Kierra blushed. “I still can’t believe I’m here.”

“Well, let’s make your dream more a reality.” Corine winked. “Please, take a seat.”

Kierra felt that she just rode the most terrifying emotional rollercoaster when she left Corine’s office.

Corine only gave her about a week and a half to revise her three hundred page manuscript. She covered every page with suggestions and comments.

Looks like I have to rewrite the whole damn thing, Kierra huffed. How in the hell am I going to finish everything and plan Marco’s thirtieth birthday celebration?!

Kierra promised herself she wouldn’t use the necklace to affect her love life or to boost her writing and typing skills. She should’ve just hid the necklace.

“Dammit. Why have I have spent so much time improving the character developments and subplots?!” Kierra fussed. “I only have a few days left.”

She bit her lip hard as she glanced over at the necklace holder on her dresser.

“I shouldn’t…. I shouldn’t…”

She turned away and focused. Her cellphone vibrated. It was an email notification.

“Shit,” she gasped. “I thought I confirmed the date with both the baker and the cater.”

“Fuck it. I can’t let them both down.” She exhaled as she got up and grabbed the necklace. “I can’t choose Corine over Marco and I can’t choose Marco over Corine.”

She put the necklace on and tapped it twice.

“Please bless me with the creativity, strength, and speed to finish my manuscript early.”

Before she knew it, she was whipping through her manuscript like she just got injected with gallons of caffeine.

Later that evening…

“You know I wouldn’t care if we had to postpone the party,” Marco said as he sneaked behind Kierra to kiss her neck. “You definitely don’t need additional stress.”

“Oh please, planning your birthday celebration has been more a stress reliever than anything,” she replied as she turned and gave him a peck on the lips. “Plus, I just finished!”

“Oh wow,” Marco responded. “Already? So you got past your runt?”

“Mhm,” she smiled as she embraced him. “I can put all my focus on the planning now!”

Marco raised an eyebrow as he noticed she was wearing the necklace.

“What?” she felt her blood pressure rising.

“Did you…” he asked as he gestured to the necklace.

“Ha. Seriously?” She faked a laugh. “I am only wearing it to remind myself I already have good luck.”

“I hope so…”

“Have I ever lied to you?” She smiled as she grabbed his face.

Featured image by Jan Vasek, courtesy of Pixabay