-The Gift

[Words to Image.

I've noticed that a lot of my thought process in writing pivots on something I will refer to as 'Beautification Within the Beast.' It's the act of taking something many will call dark and disturbing and find the beauty within it. Call it a silver lining, call it optimism. Take, for instance, death. The epitome of dark and disturbing. But can one find beauty within it?

-As the autumn leaves began to die, the foliage cast a rainbow of colors across the mountain tops, showering them with the sweetness of eye candy. (It took the death of the tree leaves to paint the countryside this marvelous painting)

-The tiny bug discarded its dying skin and gracefully stretched into its new suit, one of fresh and vibrant colors. (Once again, the beauty within death)

Therefore, as I scroll through my folder of saved choices, I intentionally chose an image with the task of finding a beautiful story with its disturbing darkness. I hope you enjoy]

Elizabeth wiped a tear from her mascara-soaked eye as the six carried her beloved Sergio to his forever resting place. She gasped at the thought of spending the rest of her days without him, yet she must.

The sky was a dangerous black, holding back the white like ice streaks of lightening as they raced one another overhead. Elizabeth thought of nothing, save her Sergio. The others shifted their glances between their feet and the storm threatening them. They were frightened but Sergio needed to be laid to rest, so they braved the task.

With the ever so close flash and clasp of thunder, sounding like a thousand cannon invasion, the six volunteers dropped the casket and ran for safety. Lightning struck again but this time it hit Sergio's vessel, blowing a sizable hole into its side. The onlookers gasped at the sight as his hand was now hanging through the opening. His lifeless fingertips embedded in the earth.

The group of men ran back to their holds and lifted Sergio, his ring finger giving up its hold on the band around it. But nobody noticed. The service was rushed and then the mourners dispersed.

There was a knock upon the widow's window, and a young gentleman held out his hand, offering Elizabeth the symbol of marriage he had found in the dirt. She carried it with her for several years to come.

And then one day, she decided to let her beloved Sergio go. She had held the ring of pewter on her person for far too long. It was time to let go.

Elizabeth visited a nearby jewelry store and decided to sell the ring on consignment. She left it with the staff and went away. Days later, she received a call.

"Good news, your ring has been purchased. The new owner wants to meet you, though."

Strange, she thought.

Elizabeth returned to the store and found herself standing face to face with their gemologist. He informed her that it was he who purchased the band and felt a pull to refurbish it and return it to its rightful owner.

"And you are the rightfully owner, ma'am. This is a part of your history. A part of who you are. It troubled me, the thought of you parting with this. So, I decided to buy it, modify it, and return it to you."

He offered Elizabeth her Sergio's ring, but it had taken on a new life. It now rested on a burgundy-colored heart of stone with a chain of silver running through it, nicely securing it in place. Elizabeth stared at something so familiar yet different.

"I wanted you to see it in another light. And never part with it again."

Elizabeth was astonished at this man's kind gesture. Their eyes locked and for the first time in many years, she felt alive again.

"What is your name?" She asked him.

"Santiago," he replied.

"Santiago ... would you like to join me for a cup of coffee, sometime?"

His eyes lit up, pulling the corners of his mouth into a smile. He accepted.

That night, the funeral directed visited her house in a mess. He informed her that he had made a grave mistake. It had been his task to present to her a handwritten letter from Sergio shortly after all business was tied up following his demise. She took the letter and read.

"My dearest Elizabeth, the absolute love of my life. Although my time will be short with you, my love will not. I will take it with me. It will transcend life and death. In this, I will leave you a gift from the other side, to let you know my love still lives. I will send you something to care for your heart so you will never feel alone. I love you."

Elizabeth shared coffee today. And every day, thereafter.