The Ring

So this post starts off with a sentence I found online on some super cool list of writing prompts. I could have told more story on this one. Significantly more story to be told, but it's like dark now, so my body feels like it's 10pm and really tired despite not even being 7pm, yet. Had to cut short by a lot. and not edit anything.. Zzzz. Perhaps I will revisit this, then again.. maybe not?! only time will tell. Saved in Word though, so I can. 

She touched the little box in her pocket, and smiled…

It was a reminder to her that no matter what happened, everything was going to be totally okay. In that box was a little family heirloom. A ring. Her mother had given it to her three days ago, after her grandma died. Along came a story of traveling, hardships, the greatest moments of someone’s life, and a history that now sat in Samantha’s pocket.

Sam’s mom’s name was Heather, grandma’s name was Emilia, and she got the ring from her grandmother, Lenora.

Lenora came to own the ring after a boyfriend of hers (who later came to be her husband) brought it from Italy. He grew up in Italy, his name was Monte. Monte bought this ring when he was only 14 years old, he had intended it to go to a girl in his town Ginna. He was in love with her since they were only five years old. They lived as neighbors, and grew up strong together. Everyone thought they were destined to marry one day. And Monte was prepared to make her his wife. Then one afternoon while the two were walking through the outskirts of town, talking and planning their life together they met an old woman. As the story got passed down with the ring, she is told to have been a witch.

Monte and Ginna talked with this woman for hours and hours, and before they left she yelled to them both “You two will not be married, you two are not meant to be together, you will see!!”

Ginna laughed it off “crazy old woman, she probably wants you for herself, but as handsome as you are, as kind, as lovely as you are, I really do not blame her. I want to marry you Monte, I’m sure my father approves of you!”  (Samantha always rolls her eyes at the old tradition of asking one’s father for approval to marry his daughter).

Monte hugged Ginna tightly and said “If I could have things my way, I would never let you go…I love you Ginna.” (Sam always thought these were bold words for such young lovers, only to be reminded that it was different back then)

Two days later, Ginna was working on her chores with her siblings and suffered a terrible accident. She did not live to marry the love of her entire life. Poor Monte could not take the suffering of staying in his home. He kissed his Mama and Papa goodbye, promised to write them… and left. Taking the ring he had just purchased. And he was off.

Monte walked north, not knowing where he was going to end up. Stopping as needed in order to work odd jobs. He told his story of lost love to everyone he came across on the way. One woman, feeling empathy for him, as she had just lost her husband, and children she had none, gave the young man one of her horses. He tried to deny the gift, but she insisted. “I have just me and too many horses to care for all alone. I will be leaving soon as I hear word from my family, please, or they will meet a most unfortunate fate!” So, he took the kind gift, and continued north. Still unsure of where he was going.

He met many beautiful women along the way but it was not until he reached Germany that he met someone he felt was as wonderful as Ginna. He knew in his heart that it was finally time to move on. The only problem was that he had spoke no German, and she no Italian. That, and she showed little or no interest in him, at first. Her name was Lenora, and she was 12. Her blonde hair sparkled in the sun, and her smile was beyond joyful.

Monte had began working with her father Johann. He was a strong and hard working man, with three daughters and no sons. He spoke quickly to Monte, and used many hand gestures to get understanding through despite then language differences between the two. Monte had  started to pick up German after a few days of working with Johann.

There was only one problem, he was still not able to express to Lenora how he felt. She was the sun after the endless rains. She made his heart beat quicker. He felt only this way before, and that was with Ginna.

“tu sei il sole negli pioggia nuvole!” she has no clue what he is saying, she points at the sky, at the sun  “Du bist die Sonne” he touches his chest “Due bist Herz” “Ich leibe dich” and began to cry as he pulled out the ring.

Lenora began to understand a little better what was going on, of course she still had no interest in him, but she started talking with him more, and showing him around town when they had free time, showing him around and teaching him the German language, and learning Italian from Monte. Once or twice a week they would walk and learn how to talk with each other. The love was growing in her.

Over a year, Monte had worked hard with Johann, had tried to woo Lenora… but after a year felt he needed to move on. If Nora wasn’t going to love him the way he loved her, he needed to know, and he needed to move forward because he was getting old. It was in telling her he needed to move forward that she said it. “Ich leibe dich” quietly she spoke.

He could not leave. He was kind, patient, and gentle with her, and she had fallen in love. Once again he presented her with the ring, and this time she took it.

The ring was passed on to their only child, a son, who had given it to Emilia’s boyfriend when he had asked for Emilia’s hand in marriage. That’s a love story for another time. Emilia wore the ring until her death. Once it no longer fit her finger she had put it on a chain around her neck.

Samantha had been dating Kenneth for two and a half years before her grandmother Emilia became ill. Her grandmother adored Kenneth and pulled him aside at Christmas that first year of their relationship. “Should you marry my granddaughter, can you please let me know so I may give you this ring”

Three months after Emilia and Kenneth’s talk about the ring,  Ken and Sam broke up. Two weeks later, Emilia had passed away. She wrapped the ring in a box with a note attached :

                        To my Dear Granddaughter, Samantha,

                                    You were always meant to have this ring. Shall you find light in the darkness. And happiness when you least expect it. I love you dearly.

Samantha holds onto the ring, knowing that when she is meant to wear it, she will know instantly. She hold on to the ring knowing there is hope. She holds on to the ring with no bitterness. With very little sadness. Because what this ring has seen is history. This ring has been around the world. She smiles because as much beauty as the ring holds, the stories and the people who have touched it are far greater in beauty. And she smiles because she knows her own fairytale awaits.