Rekindling

by Sara Brown

  ***

  I swallowed thickly and fell into the vanity stool shakily, clinging on to the necklace. When he announced his courtship that morning, I thought he was playing a sick joke, just trying to rile me up. The pain was so heart-wrenching that I thought I would die. At first, there were no tears, just me walking around numbly, absolutely shocked.

  That same day, my mother noticed Henry was no longer interested in me and packed all out things. No words were exchanged, as Henry was suddenly ignorant to the fact I existed. By dawn we had arrived at Uncle Carlton’s estate, and the rest is history.

  I’m still surprised I had this necklace in my possession. The next time I saw it after I arrived at Uncle Carlton’s home I tried to throw it into the fire, but Gertrude (my maid) hadn’t let me. I told her if she liked it so much she could keep it, which is exactly what she did. I never saw it again, until tonight, that is. Gertrude must have slipped it in the secret compartment when she packed my things. I never saw what was inside the locket, too pained to even bother.

  Curiosity getting the best of me, I opened it up to find it empty. A small folded piece of paper fluttered out and landed on my lap. I unfolded it carefully, finding Harry’s unmistakable scrawl on it. My breath caught as I read his writing.

  I will always find you. I love you.

  My eyes welled up with unshed tears and I fought to keep them at bay, staring at the clock on the mantel intensely. I was hit with a pang of longing: for the man that had become my sanctuary. He was the person who kissed my tears away and warmed my heart. The hands on the clock caught my attention, pointing out the fact that dinner had just officially ended. A new sense of urgency filled me as I wiped away the last of my tears. Determined, I fetched a winter coat, put on some gloves, and refastened my shoes.

  I wanted to hear out what Henry had to say.