The Necklace

I still blame myself because I was the one to walk away from the accident.  I stare at our 
pictures on the book shelf and think about that argument.  I should have been paying 
attention to the road and ignored your comment.  Instead I failed to see the stop sign and 
now live in torment.  Now days I'm constantly depressed and restless.  I can still see all that 
blood on her sundress, and you gripping your family's necklace.  She's no longer living in my 
physical world.  It's difficult asking to be forgiven when I buried my girl.
       Am I going crazy because I can't let go?  It was 2 years ago.  I desperately want to 
move away from Buffalo;  but selling our home has become a troubling decision.  Especially 
when I began seeing things out of my peripheral vision.  Slowly activities around this house 
became abnormal.  Now I've never believed in the paranormal, but things weren't right.  
Suddenly eerie sounds would go "bump" in the night.  Shadows and strange movements 
would play tricks on my eyesight.  All would be "still" when I would switch on the overhead 
light.  I feel I'm being watched as I sit in my favorite arm chair.  I'm aware her presence is 
here somewhere.  Just the other day our wedding picture fell from the night stand.  I was 
quite sure it was not the "boogeyman."  I'm a realistic type of man.  Oh how I miss Joann.  
Losing her is still so hard to digest, and I've been waking in the night from troubling dreams 
of finding her necklace.
       One night I fell asleep thinking about something I once told her.  I could have sworn I 
awoke to someone or something shaking my shoulder.  The air around my bed seemed 
colder.  I sat up immediately looking all about the room.  I smelled her sweet familiar 
perfume.  I then noticed something in my hand, the necklace...her family heirloom.  I 
remembered where we were, when I first said how beautiful the necklace looked on her.  
Reaching over I turned the light on, on the night stand.  I examined that gorgeous necklace 
in my hand.  I had to double check.  I felt the hairs rise on the back of my neck.
       She knew I loved seeing her wear this beautiful necklace.  I always commented to her 
how much it made her look like a princess.  But I had not seen it since that awful wreck.  
Because the necklace had been around her neck!  Then realization hit me.  Through my own 
misery I could not see.  Her spirit was now free.  Tears ran down my cheek.  Down the hall I 
heard the stairs creak.  I giggled like a funnyman, and called out "I love you too Joann"....
Copyright © | Year Posted 2009

Poem

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White Avatar
April 5, 2010 at 6:30 PM
Nice job here Jim, really amazing story. Congrats on your win- My prayers go out to you.
Haick Avatar
April 5, 2010 at 2:38 PM
JAM,Once more, your talent is evident in "The Necklace"...My warm congratulations! You'll get this faster than my letter...what's up with Turner, and others?? Didn't they show up today??? I called again 'cause I'm anxious, as you well know..Hope Sgt. Wilson gave u my message... Pls hold on JAM.. Much love to you..Audrey "
Devonshire Avatar
April 5, 2010 at 10:38 AM
Congratulations on your win in Danielle's contest, Jimmy! Love, Carolyn
Townsend Avatar
November 11, 2009 at 6:08 PM
You definately know how to paint the image in the mind of the reader. Great writing. Smiles from Lolita
Richards Avatar
November 4, 2009 at 11:09 AM
Great narrative poem, and I think this would be a great selection for Danielle's contest!! Good luck!! ~ Carrie ps..soup mail reply!! :)
Brown Avatar
October 27, 2009 at 4:12 AM
Jimmy, thank you for sharing your wonderful poem with us today. Thank you for your kind comments. I am sorry the contest was over and judged before you could enter it. I am thinking about starting a new one so maybe you will get in on it. Love, Carol
Kendrick Avatar
October 26, 2009 at 2:09 PM
Interesting ghost story. At least I hope that it is just a story. Keep writing. Sara
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