Flight of Fancy

Something happened this week that has been difficult for me to deal with. I found that the best way for me to deal with my emotions was to write a story. What follows is completely fictional, and any resemblance to real people and real places is probably a figment of your imagination (but not entirely unintentional).


My Lover sent me a wedding ring, by way of a friend. It is the most beautiful piece any one has ever given me. I know that He loves me dearly.

I keep it in my jewelry box. Whenever I'm feeling sad or lonely, I pull it out and remember that He loves me.

A few weeks ago, He sent another friend with a matching pair of earrings. He said, "I just wanted you to remember that I love you."

I was so excited to be so loved. I wore the set to a friend's house. "Look, look what He gave me."

She sighed. "My dear, don't you see that these aren't real?"

She reached for her catalog she always had on hand. "Now these... These are the real ones."

We spent sometime poring over the beautiful pearls and diamond settings.

"These are what real jewelry looks like. Those things you're wearing... Well, can't you see how cheap they are? He probably gave the real ones to your friends and they kept them. Frankly, these look like they came from a vending machine."

My heart was sinking. "But, but... He gave them to me."

"Look," she said. "Your ring, it's plastic. It may look pretty, but let's be honest, it isn't even real. It doesn't look like any of these." She pointed back to the catalog. "And those earrings! Those are even worse! Cheap. Clip-on. Mere imitations of the real thing. I can't believe you even wore them!"

I took them off and packed my treasures away in my purse.

We spent the rest of the time talking about other things.

As I got ready to go, she said, "I would be careful about those friends of yours. I think they're trying to rip you off."

I smiled, but I don't think I successfully hid my sorrow. I thanked her for her concern.

When I got home, I wrote a letter to my Lover. I told Him what had happened, and I asked Him to show me the truth about my jewels.

The next morning, I was delighted to find Him waiting for me. I asked Him again, "Is it true? Were my friends dishonest with me?"

His response was, "My gifts will always reach me you, no matter what."

He asked to see my jewelry. I brought it out.

"Let me show you something." He pulled out the catalog and pointed to several settings. "See how this and this are in your ring? See how these earrings look a little like yours? I didn't want to give you one of these, I wanted to give you something special; something unique."

"Something did get lost though..."

As I watched, He pulled out a kit and started fiddling with the settings and soon, they became even more beautiful than before. They had transformed, before my eyes, into genuine, beautiful settings more breath-taking than any but the most expensive in the catalog.

"Never forget that I love you."

I won't. I placed my jewelry back in the box.

I wonder if I'll ever show anyone else...