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?"

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

did well, and we made some money, I bought her a few decent pieces of jewelry. She kept them all in her jewelry box on the dressing table

I had almost no recollection of

She laughed and said, 'In this house, with its doors open at night, why

little, and I teared

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

brought it up again. That brooch was probably kept with

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

strength, dood fortune, peace, and enlightenment. The

listened intently, picturing it

little, asking everyone, 'Do I look pretty?" My father remembered, looking at me with affection. "That was probably the last

then sighed quietly, "I don't