Beyond the Divorce

My father thought for a moment. "Your mother did have a family crest-a brooch. Your mother carried it to commemorate her time in the Avila family."

"Oh? Do you know where it ended up?" I couldn't wait to ask, thrilled that this family crest actually existed.

My father shook his head and sighed, "I don't know. I never saw it again after your mother and I parted ways."

His voice choked up as he spoke about it.

Coming back home, he mainly reminisced about my mother. I suppose that was his greatest emotional wound. He returned, but his beloved was no longer with him.

That kind of pain must have been unbearable. So, every time my mother was mentioned, he would tear up slightly.

I pressed further. "So, where did Mom usually keep her jewelry? I mean, when you were together?"

fond of jewelry. I think she avoided them to avoid putting pressure on me. After we got together, she knew I was struggling financially, so she rarely wore jewelry. That brooch was part of a set which she only wore for special occasions." My

I bought her a few decent pieces of jewelry.

me, everything he said felt like storytelling. I had almost no recollection of any of it. Even their house in Nocturnia was

suggested she keep it in a safe. She laughed and said, 'In this house, with its doors open at night, why bother locking anything?""

a little, and I

still here, it would be so much better. Even if my father couldn't stand

she said made sense so I never brought it up again. That brooch was probably kept with

did it look like? I mean, like the color or the design?" I

was their national flower. It symbolizes strength, dood fortune, peace, and

listened intently, picturing it in my

'Do I look pretty?" My father remembered, looking at me with affection. "That was

wore it?" I asked in surprise, then sighed quietly, "I don't remember