Sometimes lying isn't such a bad thing; like when someone is trying to protect another from the truth. Other times a lie is useful to deceive someone, for the sake of something better, like a surprise birthday party. When the lie would be about not knowing, but in fact have been planing for weeks in advance for the party.
But she wasn't sure that even her best intentions were worth the guilt that she was feeling.
It was mainly at the fact that the rest of the gang didn't even bat an eye that she told them she had to leave all of a sudden. What made it worse was the well wishes and warm feelings they gave her when she left, leaving the bitter taste of the lie hung on her tongue.
The window reflected herself back at her as she watched the ground fall beyond, as the plane she was on took to the sky. Her face was gloomy to echo the feeling she had. Clutching the shoe box to herself, she tried to chide herself. It had been her decision, she was going to have to live with it. Lie and all, no matter what happened in result. The smell of burnt lifted from the crack between the shoe box and the thick cord she had bound around it. She had told them she was going to a convention for her new invention, she was to meet someone there who was interested in her work. It was true that she was going to meet someone, and it was about what she carried... But the lie was about what was inside.
She felt even more guilty as she looked about and forgot that Daphne had given her permission to use her card and got her the best seat on the flight. No friend of hers was traveling economy. While the gesture was nice, she found herself almost uneasy as she enjoyed the silence of first class. And everyone was far too distracted with their own things to even give her a glance. Even the ladies serving the plane only occationally looked in her direction, mainly to ask if she needed another drink. She was alone for the most part.
Her fingers twitched as she regarded the shoe box that she clutched at so dearly. She couldn't even hide it in her luggage, worried about getting to far away from it. That it might disappear when she wasn't looking. She had checked it countless times, peering into the cracks that her prying fingers had made, into the cardboard. But since she was basically alone now, and earth but many a mile under her, she felt safe enough to untie the box. With great care, her shaking fingers peeled back the threads as she wound it around her hand to store it for now. Taking a deep breath to settle her shaky nerves, she took off the top of the box.
"Can I help you?"
"WAH!" Slamming down the top of the box, Velma's eyes grew wide at the spooked flight attendant. Like an animal caught off guard, she practically crawled into the corner of the plush seat for a second before realizing it wasn't something to freak out about. Catching her breath, she shook her head at the poor worried lady that stood before her.
"I'm fine. Sorry. I'm ok." Velma tried to reassure her. Waving her hands and calming herself down so that the confused woman would leave her alone. Eventually, with enough reassurance, the worker left puzzled but feeling achieved she did her job. No doubt suspicious, but as long as she went away, it was fine. Not wanting to go through that again, she bound up the box in her lap. There would be plenty of time to look at it, when she reached her destination.
Curling around the box, she wiggled herself deeper into the plush seat she had. Might as well get some sleep before she reached her destination. She just hoped she was doing the right thing.
Wrapping her arms around the box, her head dipped against the side of the chair, as a pillow. A small sigh let loose from her lips as she started to drift off into sleep.
"Ben..."