At Mme. Forestier's house, I entered through a richly dressed bedroom into a quaint, pretty room. Small doors leading into a piazza were covered by a screen, oriental flowers contrasted from pastel to vivid colours, painted on the heavily varnished wood. Two glass cabinets guarded a dressing table standing between them; the smooth white marble top was polished, reflecting a dull version of the bright jewellery in the cabinets. Precious gems over spilled from their caskets, left in heaps of beautiful destruction. A light, sweet, floral scent of perfume dusted the air, giving a sense of lavish opulence. The perfume brought back reminiscent memories, and faded them away with every breath.

Mme. Forestier gestured to a small chair, so I sat. Though the chair had looked appealing, with elegant oak legs and a rose tinted velvet seat, I sat on it with unease. The soft-looking seat felt like sitting on a rough stone, and every imperfection made me shift further and further to the edge of my seat. Mme. Forestier sat down on an identical chair opposite me, unaware of what a poorly carpentered seat it was "Oh Mathilde!" she started, "I truly feel sorry for what pain I inflicted…and well…" she stood up, going towards the dresser. She opened a drawer, her shadow overtaking the light refracted there a second ago, pulling out the black satin case containing the item that had caused me to lose so much, even some traits that I would say associated to my naivety so long ago. She walked over to me and offered the case. "Please take it" I opened my mouth to object but she interjected. "No! Take it please, and go, go sell it and replace what was lost. I owe you that." At that moment, I don't know why, but I wanted her to be right. I wanted to be walking back home with a fortune that would refine my life once again in my hands. So I left, briskly walking to the front door until I made it outside. And then I ran. Pulled up my skirts and ran until my lungs burnt. I ran through small streets passing orphans begging for food and ladies, choosing food to eat from an á la carte menu, their full skirts spilling over the chairs they sat on. Still, I kept running, all the way towards the Seine, and once I got their stopped on Mathilde Bridge; the strong, beautiful bridge I was named after.

I'm not sure how long I was there, pondering on childish fancies, what I could do with the pile of metal in my hands, but I stood there. I stood so still I could hear the crush of waves the boats made and then sent away, constantly disturbing water that wished to be so calm. And then I knew what I wanted. It wasn't a revelation that changed the world but my world. How could I bring such a materialistic thing into my life that would ruin me? I placed my hand on the slight bump that wasn't quite showing yet, and smiled. No, I will make sure my baby doesn't grow up expecting the world that I did.

So, with the necklace in my hand, I help it up towards the sun, letting it be a magnificence to behold one last time. The glimmers it sent touched the ground all around me. Then I dropped it. Time seemed to stand so still. I watched it fall, little panicked glimmers flashed in all directions. Then one last glimmer, shining on my face as it plummeted to the deep, dark depths of the river bed.

I can't say I felt happy or relieved, no, not straight away. I felt...melancholy, and at a loss, but I knew it was the right thing to do. I could have restored my life to luxury again, but I didn't want to. After all, living constantly with refinements only leads to wanting more, and sugar can only be ground down to a certain refinement before it becomes dust.