Greed
by Agay Llanera

When May was a little girl, her aunt gave her and her brother Matt a candy bar each—the gooey kind with caramel oozing from the chocolate’s center. Matt gobbled up his chocolate, but May loathed the caramel in it. Still, she said that caramel was her favorite just so Matt wouldn't ask for her share. May pretended to eat.  When Matt left, May quickly threw her chocolate in the trashcan. 

When May was a senior in high school, her best friend snagged a college boyfriend.  May couldn’t  believe it; she was prettier and smarter than her friend.  How could her friend have charmed a cute  guy who drove a car? So May did the only logical thing.  She stole Ralph. 
 
When May was a young professional working in an office, she quickly rose in the ranks
by keeping trade secrets to herself.  When a new employee came in, she divulged none of these secrets and left the newbie to make all the mistakes.  May did not really like her job, but she held on to it for she refused to let more deserving colleagues get her  job.

In fact, she was so busy with work that her husband Ralph, who often went home to an empty house, realized in these quiet moments, that he was still in love with May’s best friend.

Meanwhile, Matt became a manufacturer of premium chocolates.  Every Christmas, he sent May a giant bag of caramel chocolates, knowing that those were her favorite. 
 
May continued to pretend that she liked caramel, her job, and her life.