The Missing Star Amethyst

Sometimes, doing the wrong thing feels right - but it seldom is. Michelle Liew

This is for Mikeydred’s December Prompt.

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The sound of Christmas Carols reverberated through St. Gabriel’s Cathedral as hundreds of parishoners gathered for the Christmas Eve service. Above the altar, where a star-shaped amethyst once glistened, was a starkly empty hook.                

Detective George Lee arrived in a dust-covered coat. “The star,” Father Franz whispered in a trembling voice. “It’s been stolen.”                                    

George felt the hook with his fingers, his brows furrowing. “When did you last see it?”

Father Franz gestured helplessly to the display.  “About an hour ago.”

A little boy stood trembling nearby, his shoes caked with mud. His eyes focused on the ground.  “We saw this little fellow near the star.” A female parishioner hissed. 

George crouched to meet the boy’s gaze. “What‘s your name?” the detective asked kindly. 

“David,” the boy’s small voice was a quivering whisper. 

“What’s in the bag?” 

David thought for a moment, then held it open. In it was a broken ornament, amethyst shards. “I dropped it.” The boy was sheepish. 

“Why were you near it?” 

“I…heard someone say they wanted to take it. I wanted to hide it from them.”

Noel’s synesthesia took action- a metallic chill when Father Franz spoke, but warmer,  truthful tones from David. Strange. As he stepped up to the Choir Director’s podium, his hands shook. It was a sensation he had come to associate with guilt - because it was usually spot on.

On the podium was a hymnal that was a little too full. 

“Father,” George gazed at him thoughtfully, “Why isn’t the Choir Director here tonight?”

Father Franz stumbled over his words. “Err…a family matter.”

George made his way purposefully to the podium and pulled the drawer open. There was the amethyst star, protected in a cloth bag. 

The Choir Director was brought in about a half hour later. “Please understand,” he stammered. “I had debts to pay.” 

George spoke firmly, but his expression softened. “You don’t steal someone’s hope to save your own. Taking erases it. “

Father Franz  hung the  star, albeit chipped, in its rightful place.  As parishoners filled the church to the brim, George handed David another ornament. - this one a shepherd  - unmarred, whole.

“Sometimes,  doing the wrong thing feels right. But it never is.”

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Notes:

Synesthesia is a neurological condition that occurs when stimulating one sensory pathway leads to involuntary experiences in another. In this case, Detective Noel’s auditory stimulation caused chills when the priest spoke, etc.