Mementos are truly Powerful

Today was a day that was as any and all days that she had known in the past. Isabella had woken up to the usual dreary bleak day of gray to light black clouds that permeate the skies of her world. The usual noxious odors assaulted her senses as she was always hopeful of seeing if there were any positive changes out there in the world, no matter how small.

The world had suffered a sudden and tragic destructive force that was now know as the “Catastrophe”. This had occurred shortly after she had been born. The world was no longer a beautiful shade of colors and blue skies. The “Catastrophe” had killed many people, causing a worldwide destruction that was not even clear that the world would be able to recover from.

Isabella had lost her parents shortly after she had been born. She had never really understood the whole story of how they had passed away only that she had been passed onto an elderly lady named Emma that had promised to take care of her.

Emma had truly taken care of Isabella and raised her to be a wonderful person. She had given her everything and anything that she could provide for her in this bleak, dismal world. During the day, they would go outside in their little garden for short periods of time to grow their food but otherwise, they would receive the meager handouts from what was left of their government . At night, no one dares to venture out due to the gangs of thieves and murderers that would move about. They stayed inside where it was safe for their little house was indeed a fortress.

In the world of what was once, today should have been a wonderful joyous day. Today was Isabella’s sixteenth Birthday. Instead of celebration, there was the usual ominous dread of having to be alive another day in this hellish world. To add to the misery, Emma had no choice but to give her some more bad news. Emma was dying from a rapidly spreading virus and she would not last beyond today. Today would have to be the day that Emma would finally pass down the legacy that her mother wanted passed down to her.

Isabella gently held her in her arms as Emma slowly settled in her bed. Isabella’s tears were streaming down her face and into her eyes. Emma started to tell her about her mother and the legacy that she had left for her. She took a “Heart Shaped Locket” from her neck and slowly presented it to Isabella. As she looked at it, she could tell it was old but was still quite beautiful.

Emma pulled her face towards her gently and started to tell her the tale.

She told her that her Mother had pulled the “Heart Shaped Locket” off of her own neck and gave it to her just before her passing. She had asked Emma to give it to her whenever she had come into the age of reason. When she would be old enough to understand. that day was today. She said that she would have to go into her top dresser drawer and pull out an old photo album that was bound in leather. She was to hold the Locket next to her heart and slowly and carefully look over every photograph in the book. only after she did that, she could then open up the locket and see the powerful words that were inscribed inside. All of this was to be done after she had passed on to her deep peaceful death slumber.

Isabella slowly reached down and gently kissed her forehead as she closed her eyes for the last time. The incredible sadness begin to overcome her as she sat for the longest time holding the only person that had ever showed her love. She was now alone and was unsure what to do. She sat for a little longer and suddenly, a deep peaceful calm swept over her. She was still sad but not quite as scared. She somehow knew that what Emma had passed on to her was going to be something quite beautiful and powerful. She knew that the “Heart Shaped Locket” was indeed a beautiful memento, a legacy that was now hers.

She followed the instructions that were laid out to her and found the old photo album. It must have been over one hundred years old and the old leather covering had a rich but old smell to it. As she slowly opened the first page, there they were. Picture, beautiful pictures of this women with powerful colorful backgrounds of the days when the world was beautiful. New tears of joy were steaming down her eyes as she would wipe them away so that she could relish these beautiful pictures. All of these women in these picture were her legacy. She knew that she was a part of of powerful beautiful group of women. Mother, Aunts, Great Aunts, Grandmothers.

She carefully went though each and all of the pages as she was instructed to do. She begin to notice a common theme. The pictures were beautiful with all of the colors but they were still picture taken at times when there were wars and diseases going. Even in the beautiful world that was before, there were times of great difficulties and tragedies that had occurred before the “Catastrophe”. These women were showing the iron will clad and resolutions in these difficult time. They chose to have families even during these trying times. Most people would have thought that this would be so crazy wanting to have families. The power displayed from their faces was nothing short of amazing. Isabella now knew for the first time in her life, where she came from. This was her amazing family. She looked at the last picture that was of her mother taken shortly before the “Catastrophe”. the gentle smile on her face belied the fact that there was a powerful persona. Powerful but loving.

Before she had looked at the album, She as would many other people would have thought that having a baby before the “Catastrophe” would be incredibly insensitive. She knew at that moment that her parents knew that impending disaster was coming to the world was coming but they chose to have her anyway. At this point, she slowly opened the “Heart Shaped Locket” and slowly looked at the words as they leaped out lovingly for her. The message was short but so powerful. Here is what it said. “The love of life, all life must persevere. pass this on to your daughter and their daughters.

She knew that she had a purpose now. Love and Life are more powerful than anything that the world can throw at you. Even if it is the “Catastrophe”. She knew that the “Heart Shaped Locket” was no longer just about her family but this would be the memento and family legacy that will be shared with everybody. They were now all of her family and family will override the “Catastrophe”. With her new mission, She was now not only her Birthday but the new Birthday of humanity. And on she went.