Val stared forlornly at the blue velvet case in her hands, tears too close to shed. Sniffling, she wiped at her nose with the back of her hand, she laughed at the odd thought of what her mother would do if she saw that unladylike action.
   But she didn't care. No, not today she didn't.
   Her fingers delicately caressed the smooth velvet, letting the substance try to soothe her troubled mind.
   A dark spot instantly appeared on the box, looking closer Val noticed it was because of the tear that escaped from her eye. The tip of her index touched it with sadness.
   He had wanted to give her everything real. Show her exactly what real love was, not the fake emotions she was so used to. He tried so hard to open her closed heart and mind, but his attempts were futile and in vain, she just couldn't do it. Didn't know how to and even under his teaching she still failed him.
   Her mind played out several scenes in her mind, the way she felt when she first had met him through a friend's friend of a relative. Smiling, her lips twisted ruefully as she remembered trying to explain that to him.
   He had always teased her about the string of fake pearls around her neck, and she allowed him to. Giving him small smiles and ignoring the comments. He didn't know about them, and she had no reason to tell him otherwise.
   It was months after they had met and hung out a few times that he had finally asked about them. She had shrugged it off, merely telling him that they were a fond memory of hers and wanted to keep it with her always. When they started dating he kept urging her to take them off and wear something else to the parties he wanted her to accompany him to. Even going as far as wanting to buy her something else, something pretty, something real.
   But she had always refused, saying she'd wear something black to offset them, or hid them under her collar, even went as far as asking if he just rather her not go with him. It always seemed to anger him, and caused frustration between them.
   It was just yesterday though that she was taking a shower, her beloved necklace left on the bathroom counter so it wouldn't ruin under the water, soap, and shampoo. He had taken it, and broke the string, leaving the remains on the counter.
   When she exited the steamy shower stall and dried off, her hand absently reached for her pearls and only felt a handful of single the beads. Horror-struck she cried out in pain, as if the destruction was caused on her physically instead.
   She ran from the lavatory and nearly ran into him in the bedroom. Her eyes wildly looked up at him for answers, finding the one she wanted but didn't. Her heart broke in her chest in silence, but he read the pain in her eyes and knew what was happening. Regret devoured him instantly. He never meant to hurt her!
   He apologized profusely, tears coursing his cheeks as he tried hard to get her to let him explain, but she refused. Her head and body shaking and trembling over the emotions tearing her apart inside.
   When she had stopped, she took in a deep breath and looked up at him with a cool gaze and asked him to leave.
   He went to protest but knew his words would have little to no effect. Sighing, he dropped a box on her bed and stormed out in self-anger.
   Hurrying to dress, Val tried futively to fix her necklace, only to find the string was too old and too broken to repair. Her eyes filled with tears again as she clutched the pearls and strings to her chest.
   A memory of her parent's indulging, and buying her the necklace flashed through her mind, relaxing her slightly. It was the last gift she was given before her parents died in an airplane crash on their way home from their second honeymoon.
   Old wounds reopened, and pain encased her again. Stronger this time than before. A hint of betrayal sharpening the pangs.
   Again she looked back down at the case in her hands and opened it slowly. Gasping in shock, the elegant box slipped from her fingers and landed on the floor. Spilling a real pearl necklace across the light grey rug. "Oh God, Nick." She sobbed, her throat constricting in agony.

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