Married

A short story, imagined.

"She felt married to him, that was all."

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When the light streamed through her mother’s bedroom, a smooth gold that warmed the skin, she lay with the glittering pile of jewellery. family heirlooms, trinkets, gifts, strange loops of silver and heavy gold, strings of pearls, things that chimed and clinked their metal winks… some of them had a soul and whispered stories along afternoon tea. others sparked under night lights.

She rolled and pranced, with necklaces, bracelets, earrings and rings all too big, sliding on her skin. She became her grandmother, her great-aunt, her family friend, and her mother all in one. Flaunting gold flecked with opal, encrusted rubies and engraved silver. Womanhood sparkled in each one like a hiss of mysterious intuition, something that would unlock galaxies in her dreams.

They passed from her mother’s hand to hers, and back again - tan - pale - wise - foolish - wild - hopeful. Then, one small ring winked in the light. “Oh… my first engagement ring.” Her mother hummed, carefully holding the small gold band in her hand, the deep red oval ruby cut jagged in the centre. Two tiny diamonds were encrusted in the gold - but one had vanished.

Her mother seemed absently nostalgic for the time the ring brought her back to. Nothing of regrets, simply musing. Her first husband had been a poet, a pauper, a parent, & psychologist. His devotion to her was certain and admirable, for she only said Yes on the third proposal - and this was the winning ring. Though the ring seemed darkened by the blood of their divorce, in the afternoon light it shone with the glory of an amputed hero on a battlefield.

“My dear, here. it holds no regrets, and no malevolence. Wear it as you wish.”

The daughter wore silver, but the glamour of her mother’s gold would catch her eye, command her total devotion. Upon her hand, it became a totem whose omen remained a gleaming mystery - its adornment was a symbol of defiance to any bad luck. After all, she had loved several, was loved by many. Certainly, her own destiny could rule the ruby.

Then one year later, she found a home for the ring.

---

She had never felt more at peace than living with him. For those few months, they had built a home of their own, through the labor of love. He shaped the walls, commanded form and tenderly held hers. She filled the rooms with hope, soul and color.

Every morning she was waken by a kiss, and saw him off just as the Dawn started to comb through his golden hair. The days were slow and sweet, and she loved nothing more than when he’d return in the afternoon, his forest green eyes bright and kind.

They were young and in love. She had finally found a home for her inner wild child, who had grown up along these very beaches, and it was by his side that she felt complete: safe and adored. He loved rarely and hard - but it was easy for her to glide right through his tough skin to touch that tender heart.

The days went by one after one, a thread of gold slowly passing through with care. Things had never been this… simple. This wonderful life, slow and easy. There was a balance, an understanding of equal exchange here that made sense: he’d fix the appliances, build the walls, and she’d tidy the rooms, make food. Labour was rewarded mutually, and this deepened their bond. Laughter filled the house, and the two cats in the yard mewed affectionately - and the seal was complete. This, she realized one day, was a perfect married life.

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The gold ring slipped back onto her finger, and she thought she heard trumpets, saw bouquets of white, vows of love and happily ever after…

This indeed, must be her first marriage.

So, she decided, all on her own, to be his wife. After all, it was only natural: he was her husband.

The ring had its quirks: it was too big for her actual ring finger, so it settled neatly in the centre of her fingers, grounding her. The missing diamond seemed to mean her mother’s past relationship, and the remaining one left hope for her own. This ring’s omen was a promise of firsts.

They celebrated their love with laughter, music, kindness, kisses, acceptance, care, and a single, rare rose.

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He’d always remember the joy in her smile, and she cherished his lion pendant in her gold band.

Red lips, red rose, and a red red ruby - the color of their devotion.