To Our Only Hope

Part One: Unexpected Guest

It was my birthday, October thirteenth. It was on a Friday this year. I was just turning eighteen.

I was back at my mom's house sitting on the couch in the family room, anticipating my guests' arrival, when I heard a knock on our front door.

'That's odd.' I thought. 'Everybody was told to come through the back door for the party.'

I opened the door to a small woman, about as tall as my shoulders. She was wearing a black summer dress, her silvery hair curled gently down her back, some going over her shoulders. The woman looked young at first glance, but when you looked closer, you would notice that she had wrinkles in the corners of her eyes from smiling, some under the corners of her lips from frowning. Her eyes were a lovely silvery-blue, and showed a wise glimmer, proving she had seen much in her years, but they were kind and sweet. She was carrying a small gift box.

'That's really nice wrapping paper. My favorite colors.' I thought, noticing the patterns of the dull black nicely swirling over the bright red, like dark smoke curling over fresh blood. The red was glittering in the sunlight, like velvet, while the black looked almost like suede. There was a nice velvet bow tied prettily at the top. I noticed I was staring admiringly at the box in the small woman's arms. I looked up at her face, and she smiled softly.

"I'm sorry, I'm not sure what just got into me." I apologized. "May I help you, ma'am?" I said politely.

"Such a lovely sense of manners you have, dear!" she replied sweetly, her feminine voice sounding like the tinkling of bells. "Yes, you can help me. I've a present for you! I wish you a happy birthday, Miss Miranora! I must be going now." she held the heavy-looking box out with two small arms, getting ready to turn around to go to the car waiting for her in the driveway.

"Thank you very much, ma'am." I smiled, taking the box from her frail arms and setting it in the doorway beside me. "Is there anything else I can do for you? Would you like to come in and relax for a bit before you head back home?" I looked at her and she smiled brightly, her light eyes twinkling.

"No, that's quite alright dear. I must be heading home now." With that, she turned and made her way down the steps and hopped into the passenger side of the small maroon car.

"Take care, ma'am! Drive safely, and thank you for the gift!" I shouted after the progressing vehicle.

I closed the door and picked up the box, bringing it down the hallway, past the kitchen, and into my room. I closed the door behind me, and sat on my bed. As I gently rattled the box, I heard a shuffling noise.

Slowly and cautiously, I opened the box to reveal a black-and-red interior, just like the wrapping paper on the outside. Something small and black was pushed against the corner, its outline vaguely visible against the paper.

Then I saw the edges of a red envelope poking out from in between the box and the neatly wrapped paper.

'Always read the card first.' I thought, remembering what my mom always told me to do. I set the box down on my bed frame and carefully slid the envelope from its place, and read the print on the back.

It read 'To Our Only Hope' in small, neatly printed cursive letters.

I opened the envelope to find a note on grey paper, written in the same small, neatly printed cursive letters.