The arrangement is whoever loses the card tournament is given a sentence by the winner and must write something based on that sentence.

The sentence I was given: 

With the unmistakable click of the shackles as they locked, Diane wondered if any of them would not be surprised in the morning when they found her gone.

She no longer remembered what it was like to live without the fear. What it was like to be able to take a deep breath and fill her lungs without the constriction in her chest, the sensation of her throat closing on the scream, the scream that came closer and closer to escaping.

That’s when she laughed the loudest.

It’s what she was known for – being the life of the party, making work a great place to be.

She did not tolerate unkindness or dishonesty – that’s what else she was known for.

She’d come close to putting an end to it, to just….letting it all come out.

But it was a kind of paralysis – like standing at the top of the cliff, seeing the dread thing approaching, ever closer, the only escape the cliff but being unable to jump. Standing with one foot over the edge, wanting desperately to fall, but being unable to lose her balance.

The choice was no longer hers.

They’d come for her.

With the unmistakable click of the shackles as they locked, Diane wondered if any of them would not be surprised in the morning when they found her gone.

She pictured their shock as the news got around. She could see the hurt and betrayal on each of their individual faces. Except Charles. He never entered her circle, always stood at the side, staring.

Diane raised her head and opened her eyes and looked across the office and there was Charles, staring back, expressionless as he slowly put his phone away.

She tried to speak, but her voice was for lying and no sound came out. She could only form the words she wanted to say and hope he could read her truth at that distance.

Charles watched from across the room as it all ended. For once she was silent. She looked at him, all pretence gone.

Her lips moved and he felt the words he could not hear.

“Thank you.”