Chances

One - Reminiscence

"The best part about
a romance story isn't having it
but, getting to keep reading it."
           -J.M.I.s

It was an early morning when Ben and Alex decided to clean their attic. It's been a few years since it was last cleaned by their mother. The brothers entered the attic, looking at the spider-webs covered walls. They scrunched their noses at the scene and began cleaning.

"We will be lucky if we finish cleaning by today." Ben exclaimed.

"Lucky, sweaty and dirty, too." They both chuckled and continued cleaning.

Hours passed by until it was past dinner time and Alex and Ben were still cleaning. "Ben, I'm hungry. Let's take a break and eat." Alex's stomach can be heard grumbling from a mile.

"I guess food can wait a little, Alex. Come look what I've found."

Alex's curiosity piqued by what Ben has said, came near him. "What is it, Benny?"

Alex saw Ben holding a dusty, leather-bound box, his eyebrows raised with intrigue. "What is that? Where'd you find it"

Alex, carefully taking the box from Ben, brushes off the dust. The leather feels cool and worn in his hands. The clasp is tarnished but still holds tight. "This is definitely older than this house," he mutters, turning the box over in his hands. "Any idea who it belonged to?"

"It looks like it belonged to someone who died a long time ago." Ben retorted.

"We should definitely take a closer look. Maybe there's something else inside the box that can give us some clues..."

Alex opened the box. It creaked a little. He looked inside to find some old papers and a small leather pouch.

The papers could be anything from personal letters to historical documents. The leather sachet adds another layer of mystery.

"Ben, take a look inside the pouch. I'll look through the papers."

Alex turned the papers over. They looked like very old love letters. Alex continued looking through the papers where he found a little worn out photo of a handsome man wearing a soldier's outfit.

As Alex delves into the love letters, his emotions stir. The faded ink speaks of a love story perhaps interrupted, leaving him wondering about the soldier in the photo and the fate of the lovers.

Meanwhile, Ben carefully unties the leather pouch, his curiosity piqued by its contents.

Ben finds a necklace with a very beautiful pendant. Shining under the faint moonlight entering from the attic's small window.

The discovery of the necklace adds another layer of intrigue to the already captivating story. The faint moonlight illuminating the pendant creates a sense of wonder and mystery.

As Ben holds the necklace, a question forms in his mind: could this be the pendant mentioned in the love letters? Perhaps it belonged to the soldier in the photo, or maybe it was a cherished possession of the woman who wrote them.

Ben found small engravings on the back of the pendant. It read "To my beloved, Elinor." It's the name of my great great grandmother, Ben thought.

Alex's breath catches in his throat. The inscription on the pendant ties everything together in a startling revelation. Elinor, their great great grandmother, is at the center of this unexpected discovery.

A surge of emotions washes over them - a blend of wonder, intrigue, and a strange sense of connection to their past. He looked at Ben, his eyes wide with shared astonishment.

Alex looked through the letters again. And found one with faint ink stains, as if the paper was wetted by tears. Whose tears were they? The reader's, the writer's or maybe both?

Alex read the letter. It's a goodbye letter from the soldier in the picture.

Elinor,
My love,

This may be the last letter I will be sending you. I lost my friend today at war. I don't know if I will return home alive. Whatever happens to me, I want you to know that I will never leave your side. Alive or dead I will always be beside you. Take care of yourself and the baby. I don't know if I will ever see and hold my baby. If it's a girl, name her Flora because she will be the flower of our love. And if it's a boy call him Lucas because he will be the light you brought to my life. Elinor, my wife. Don't forget our memories together. Stay strong with our love. Stay strong for our unborn child. You are the strongest woman that I have ever seen. The angel that rescued me from my darkness. I am thankful to god who brought you into my life. Elinor, don't cry. I can't wipe your tears from this far. Don't forget that I love you.

Your hubby,
Peter

The weight of history settled on the brothers as they finished reading the letter. The soldier's final words paint a vivid picture of love and loss, leaving a poignant echo across time. Elinor's and Peter's tears stained the paper, a testament to the enduring love story that unfolds before them. The name Flora hangs in the air, a powerful symbol of love and hope that transcends generations.

Neither Alex nor Ben could hold their tears from falling down. "Flora?" Alex wondered aloud. "Peter? As in Great great grandpa Peter?" Ben asked. "And Great Grandma Flora?"

Tears streamed down their faces as Alex clutched the letter, the emotions of generations past washing over them. Ben, his voice thick with emotion, echoes Alex's thoughts, piecing together the puzzle of your family history.

The names "Flora" and "Peter" take on a new meaning, transforming from distant relatives into figures of love and sacrifice. The attic, once a dusty storage space, has become a portal to the past, revealing a love story that transcends time.

Their tears were now of happiness after they came to the realization that grandpa Peter returned safely from war.

The revelation brings a wave of relief and joy, washing away the sadness of the goodbye letter. The tears that fall now are for a different reason - a celebration of love and resilience.

The knowledge that Elinor and Peter had their happily ever after, and that their love story lives on in Alex and Ben, filled the attic with warmth.

The box, once a mystery, has become a treasure chest overflowing with a legacy of love.

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