What happened to it?

“So tell me Lara, what actually happened to it?”

I didn't know and I certainly couldn't explain it.

“I was hoping you could tell me!” I managed to squeak, desperately trying to suppress the rising panic in my voice.

Nina had been given the unenviable task of guiding me through all the intricate rules and regulations in my new role. There was so much to learn and she was a wonderful teacher but she'd not warned me about this.  I must be the worst student since the birth of the universe.

Her head tilted slightly as she scrutinised me.  “Well, this has never happened before.”

I felt even worse now. “What? Not ever?”

“No, not ever...it's totally unprecedented.”

I looked down in embarrassment, my feet shuffling as if they had a life of their own.

I didn't understand.  It was meant to be part of me, like my very soul, so I didn't think it was possible to lose. I'd only been admiring it's beauty a few moments earlier, still not quite believing  my good fortune at being chosen, but when I looked again it was gone. I blinked and squinted; even closed my eyes briefly and hoped upon hope that when I peeked again everything would have returned to normal.  But no, it hadn't; there was still a space where the object had been. I felt a total failure and was sure I would be sent to the Boss and given some terrible punishment. I could no longer fight  the tears and they began streaming down my face.

Nina sighed and put her arm around me. “Don't worry, we'll figure it out, there's always a first time for everything my child. Although what you were doing to lose your halo,  I can't imagine.”


(Word count: 297)