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starburst necklace, 1976

tragedy:
My mom gave me a birthstone necklace for my birthday in 1976; pewter spikes like sunshine or a starburst surrounded the tiny stone. Since then, I've kept it safe and when I take it off at night, I look at it and then without fail, place the necklace in box or a cloth. But a week ago, I fell asleep with it on, or maybe it slipped off when I was washing my face or when I was watching National Geographic, or when I was scratching my neck, or when I was on the front porch smoking, or when I was not paying attention, see I don't know. All I am certain of, is that I fingered the small pendant when I arrived at my mother's home, and I was tired from being at the hospital all day long and the day before that. My only consolation is that my mother's home swallowed my necklace and it's not in some alley or down a city drain. The house took it's chance when I was not looking, taking in a piece of what used to be, a moment years ago when a young woman placed a gift around her daughter's neck, and smiled with her dark hair brushing the air. House, I am asking you to take care of my precious star.

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