20 May Sunday Sunny
Dear Diary,
So many unexpected things have happened today. My mind is flooded with messy thoughts, feelings and memories of the past. I have to tell you everything, or it will be unbearable.
Today began perfectly normally, just like any other Sundays – until I brought Johnny to the playground of the park in the late afternoon. There, I met Matilda!
I wonder if you still remember Matilda Loisel, as I hadn’t mentioned her for about ten years. We were friends since primary school. Later I married Edmund and she married a less successful man Loisel, and our friendship remained. She dreamt about a life like mine. I found that she however wasn’t jealous of the people luckier than her, though she did have a new habit of belittling her family. I liked her and always invited her over for tea. I decided to help her whenever I could. So one day when she came and asked if she could borrow some jewels for going to a party, I agreed immediately.
She didn’t choose the bracelets or gold pins. She loved a diamond necklace – actually made of glass. I didn’t tell her it was fake, because she was so excited. I lent it to her. She returned it to me two weeks later, and suddenly disappeared from the neighbourhood.
Ten years passed. And today in the park, a woman approached me and greeted me. She looked old, with grey hair and rough skin, wearing shabby clothes. I was a bit shocked when I knew she is Matilda. She looked totally different. She explained. And the story she told me is alarmingly incredulous.
She lost the glass necklace, after going to the party. So she bought a real diamond necklace, which has taken her and her husband ten years to pay for, to return to me.
I finally understood the situation. Horrible. Matilda didn’t know – and she smiled. I had no choice but to tell her the truth, ”My necklace was fake. It was made out of glass. It was not worth more than five hundred francs!” Oh, am I cruel? Dear Diary, is it better to keep the secret forever? The thing is over, and I shouldn’t hurt Matilda again, should I? Matilda became pale, her hands trembled. She shook her head slowly, and looked at me helplessly. Then she left.
What have I done to Matilda! If she hadn’t lied to me that night… But I’m the one who lied to her first! That’s all my fault! Poor, poor Matilda! Poor, poor Mr. Loisel! And me, what should I do? Dear Diary, what should I do?
I’ve kept the diamond necklace nicely all these years, which I realize is the most most graceful thing I’ve done in my life. It shall be worth five thousand francs today. I will give it back to Matilda tomorrow. Mr. Loisel can sell it and move back to their old department, or even a slightly better one. I will apologize for a thousand times. I will sell all my jewellery, and give every cent to Matilda. I will ask Edmund if there are any high-income jobs for Mr. Loisel. I will…
What else can I do, dear Diary? How can I pay off the ten years she lost owing to me? What have I done? How can I face Matilda tomorrow? Oh, dear Diary!
Dear Matilda!