The Shame

The minute Jennifer walked into the staff room; she knew instantly she had been exposed. The chatter stopped at the precise moment she walked in; she felt everyone had been discussing her. The silence was excruciating. Every beady eyeball fixated upon her. She wished she could shrivel into the tiniest piece of dust. But now she was the center of attention; larger than life and in full focus of everyone. She wanted to be anywhere but here. She masked her reddening face behind her available hand – just wishing and wishing some more that there was another explanation. Her gut told her - there wasn’t. She needed to compose herself and she slid her hands slowly down her face. It was too late she had already sent the guilty signal to all and sundry. The investigation was now complete. For weeks she hoped that they would come up with a different explanation. “How could you be so stupid?” she reprimanded herself over and over in her head, “How could you siphon the charity donation meant for the elderly?” How she wished her nightmare would end, but it was only the beginning...

Image Credit: Vermillionfox

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