The White Shells – The Beautiful Memories

A short story –

White sands stretch as far as the eye can see.
The twilight sky begins to blanket the horizon.
The gentle crashing of waves seems to whisper.

“Calm down.”
“Everything will be alright.”

Unaffected by the crowd joyfully playing, laughing, running around.
Yet, the heart remains empty, quiet, alone.

Today marks exactly one year since the passing of his beloved wife, Mia.
Time feels like it has been moving painfully slow.

There is no longer a warm greeting when coming home from work.

“Hi honey, welcome home.”
“I made something special for you, can you guess?”

Lasagna, placed on a white plate, melted cheese on top. He could see three layers from the side — one of her most beloved dishes among dozens of others she used to make.

No more “I love you” whispers and kisses before bedtime.

No more fights over the TV remote for which series to watch or which football game to tune in to.

No one to ask for help opening the lid of the peanut butter jar anymore.

These are memories filled with joy, yet they press heavily on the chest. The heart feels like it stops for a moment, the mind drifts away through time.

Recalling other beautiful memories that once seemed so ordinary — now turned bittersweet, overwhelming.

…

Still surrounded by the beach crowd at dusk.
Gazing into the vast horizon.
Unaware tears begin to fall from both cheeks.

“It hurts.”

Slowly but surely, the tears begin to flow more heavily, soaking the hand that hold a traditional woven bracelet adorned with white seashells and a beautiful green gemstone.

His memory takes him back to his first date with Mia at this very beach — and this bracelet was the first gift he ever gave her.

“Forgive me.”

He gently digs a small hole in the sand, places the bracelet inside, and carefully covers it.

“Everything will be alright.”

…