"Thief!"
The word hit me so hard my ears rang.
"I didn't steal anything!" I said quickly, my voice trembling despite my effort to stay calm.
The entire boutique stared at me.
Some were curious and shocked.
Most… disgusted.
Mrs. Kang, my manager, stood behind the counter with her arms crossed tightly over her chest.
"The diamond necklace disappeared after you entered the storage room," she said coldly.
My heart pounded painfully.
"You sent me there," I argued. "You asked me to arrange the new stock!"
"And now it's gone."
Whispers filled the shop.
"I always thought she was strange."
"She looks innocent but you never know…"
"People like her pretend to be hardworking."
Every sentence felt like needles pushing into my skin.
I swallowed hard.
"I've worked here for two years. Why would I suddenly steal?"
Mrs. Kang sighed, already tired of me.
"The police are coming."
The words drained the strength from my body.
Police?For something I didn't do?
My fingers shook uncontrollably.
"Please… check again. I really didn't take it."
No one answered or defended me.
Even my coworkers who used to eat lunch with me avoided my eyes.
That hurt more than the accusation itself.
The sound of sirens grew louder outside.And in that moment, I realized something cruel.
Being innocent doesn't matter when you are alone.
…
The questioning lasted forever.
They searched my bag,my locker,even my phone.
But found nothing because there was nothing to find.
Yet the humiliation remained.
The officers finally left after warning me to remain available if evidence appeared.
I thought that would be the end.
ButI was wrong.
Mrs. Kang placed my uniform on the counter.
"You're fired."
My chest tightened.
"But you know I didn't…"
"I cannot keep a suspected thief in my store."
Suspected?One word destroyed two years of effort.
I slowly removed my name tag and placed it beside the uniform.
My hands felt numb.
I walked out carrying only my handbag.
No job,defense or dignity.
The cold Seoul air hit my face as the door closed behind me.
And just like that…
I became unemployed.
Disposable and forgotten.
My phone rang almost immediately.
Indicating Landlord.
Fear curled in my stomach.
"Hello…"
"Marimar, where is my rent?" he barked.
"I… I lost my job today. Please give me a little more time."
"You already owe two months!"
"I'll pay. I just need a few days…"
"No more days. Come home now."
The call ended.
My hands trembled as I lowered the phone.
Something told me my day wasn't finished destroying me yet.
When I reached the apartment building, my landlord was already waiting.
His expression carried zero patience.
"The money."
"I don't have it yet, but…"
He pushed past me and unlocked my door.
Panic rose immediately.
"Wait…what are you doing?"
He didn't answer.
Instead, he began throwing my belongings outside.
My clothes landed first.
Then my blanket.
My books.
My small suitcase.
Everything I owned scattered across the hallway floor.
"Please stop!" I begged. "I have nowhere else to go!"
"That is not my concern," he replied flatly.
"I just lost my job today!"
"And I am not running a charity."
The door slammed shut.
I stood staring at it, unable to move.
Neighbors peeked through their doors.
Some whispered,while some watched openly.
Humiliation burned through me.
I gathered my belongings slowly and carried them outside the building.
Night had already fallen.
Streetlights flickered one by one.
My entire life now sat beside me in two
small bags.
Just two bags!
That was all I owned after years of surviving alone.
I sat on the cold pavement and hugged my knees.
Cars passed.
People laughed.
Couples walked by holding hands.
Life continued as if mine hadn't just collapsed completely.
A bitter laugh escaped my lips.
"So this is how it ends…"
I worked hard.
Stayed quiet.
Avoiding trouble.
Yet everything kept slipping away from me.
My job,my home,my reputation.
Even my innocence meant nothing.
Tears rolled down my cheeks uncontrollably.
"I didn't steal anything…"
My voice sounded small and pathetic.
My phone battery blinked red before shutting off completely.
The screen went dark.
Just like my future.
Silence surrounded me.
For the first time in my life…I felt truly alone.
Not the kind of loneliness that passes.
But the kind that settles deep inside your bones.
The kind that makes breathing feel heavy.
I looked up at the night sky.
"What am I supposed to do now…?"
No answer came.
Only cold wind brushing against my face.
Something inside me finally gave up fighting.
The world had already decided who I was.
A thief and failure.
Someone easy to discard.
I wiped my tears slowly and stood up.
My legs felt weak, but my mind was strangely calm.
If there was nowhere left for me in this world…
Then maybe…I didn't belong in it anymore.
I picked up my bags and began walking.
Not knowing exactly where I was going.
Only knowing I couldn't stay here.
And that tonight…something inside me had finally broken beyond repair.