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"The Hat"

Things aren't always as they seem. You may see two people fighting and believe them sworn enemies when they could very well be a married couple after a rough day together. A misunderstanding from a miscommunication that never happened. But what if the misunderstanding was far more confusing and far more darker than it seemed?

It was difficult and seemed to take forever, but I managed to escape from work. The place was understaffed, leaving everyone there, even those that opened, to work well over ten hours that day without a break. It was something that made me want to walk out but I knew I needed the money far more than I needed to be petty.
As I drove away from the store, I came across several hand-written signs stapled to poles that advertised a yard sale, just a few blocks from where I was at. I figured I might as well. A little measure of the outside world before turning in for the day.
I pulled up to the house and saw several tables scattered about the yard, out front the house. There were a few racks of used clothes, a few boxes with old toys for kids sitting on the tables, and a small collection of hats on a table all alone. One hat in particular caught my eye. I left my car and headed over to the hats. I sorted through them until I found the one I wanted.
It was something like a beanie, only it was solid black with a bill attached to it, as though it was some kind of baseball cap. I had to buy it, so I picked it up and paid for it. I threw it on my head and headed back to my car to retire for the day.
When I got home I was completely swaged out by the hat that lay over my head. I fell in love with it like a woman in a shoe store. The way it was pulled over my hair, the way I combed my hair underneath it to look a little better made me feel on top of the world.
I headed to work the next day with it on. I wish I could have captured the looks on everyone's face when they saw me. Were they surprised? I'd assume so. After all, they could have been easily jealous of the way it changed my looks for the better.
Perhaps they thought it ridiculous, snickering at it behind my back and never mentioning a word, instead laughing at me when I'm not around, just like this very moment. I didn't want to stick around and find out. Before starting work, I took off my hat and hid it amongst my stuff so no onw would be tempted to steal it.

After the day had ended, I went back to check my things. Sure enough everything was together just as it was before. I threw on my jacket and picked up my hat. I was about to put it on my head when I felt a sharp object poking my head. I took it off and inspected it. I saw a slip of folded up paper that hid beneath the bill of the hat.
I took out the paper and read it. 'The wearer of this hat has 24 hours to live.

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