Love That Lived In The Next Life

12

Cameron stared at the present for what felt like hours even if it only was twenty minutes. Daniella's father turned away toward his hotel room for the night while Andrea crashed in Cameron's apartment. The girl was too tipsy, and it was too late to send her home on a bus. Daniella crept up behind Cameron with two steamy cups of cocoa in hand. She gently replaced the view of the gift with the cocoa. It steamed in her face while the cocoa tickled her nose. Cameron deeply inhaled the heavenly sent as she tossed the present on the couch and took the cocoa instead.

"You know darling, if it gives you this much anxiety, maybe you should wait till your birthday to open it." Cameron grunted her reply as she held the cup. Daniella sat close to her lover and placed her legs on top of Cameron's. She relaxed against the couch and watched as her girlfriend stared at the cup. It was as if she tried to stare through it. "You're thinking too hard." "Dad never disobeys mom," Cameron mumbled.

"Well, maybe he decided to grow a pair," Daniella mumbled into her cup. Cameron chuckled softly.

"I heard that."

"My point remains the same." Daniella leaned forward and squeezed against the other's thigh. "You can worry all you want, but it doesn't change the fact that he still stopped by and wanted to see you. At least he tried."

"I guess."

"Do you want open your gift?"

"...yes."

"Then how about we both open it." Daniella set her mug aside as Cameron sipped hers and did the same. She grabbed the tossed box again as Daniella repositioned herself. They sat so close that their thighs touched. Cameron fiddled with the slight tear in the paper. Daniella took the girl's hand and helped rip it open. A plain box graced their eyes. Cameron took in a deep breath.

"Okay," Cameron convinced herself. She flipped open the top of the box and inside laid a simple birthday card along with a small bracelet. Cameron's brows furrowed as she grabbed the small thing and held it up. It was a small silver bracelet with clear gemstones scattered throughout it. Cameron grabbed the card next and read it loud enough for both to hear.

"Gram wanted you to have this. Happy Birthday, Cammie." Cameron stared at the bracelet with newfound interest.

"Did you ever keep in touch with your grandmother after you and your parents split?" Daniella asked.

"All the time. We had weekly calls." Cameron gulped slowly as she set the card aside and analyzed the bracelet. Her eyes trailed to a small engraving, and she gasped. Her eyes grew as her hand clamped her mouth. Tears pricked her eyes.

"Cameron?"

"Come with me." Cameron grabbed Daniella's arm and half-dragged her out of the apartment. She walked into the unlocked apartment where Andrea snored away on the couch. She walked into her room with Daniella in toe. Daniella glanced around at the simple room that had posters scattered on the walls. She ran over to a small nightstand near her bed and pulled out a small jewelry box. An identical bracelet slid out of the box and onto awaiting fingertips. Daniella turned on the light to the room and stared at Cameron's discovery.

"So...what is it?" Daniella asked slightly confused.

"Gram and I...we always were close. We even got matching bracelets." Cameron turned the inside engraving toward Daniella's eyes. "Our lineage was German so I took it in high school. This was our thing." Daniella stared at the word. Her head tilted to the side as brows furrowed.

"Se...Seleenfrieden?"

"It means peace of mind. Well...roughly it actually translates to soul peace." Cameron waved off the explanation. "We always believed that the soul should always be at peace. So, that was our thing, and we wore it to try and promote mental health and soul peace." A smile unconsciously crossed her face.