by A.J. Aaron
“Always remember that the future comes one day at a time.”
Dean Acheson
6
I was walking down to Zenali, the local jewelry store one block from my apartment. My heels clicked on the sidewalk and the sand crushed beneath my soles. Like the way I crush the men I’m done with.
I drove my inherent might into my stride and caught the looks of the men approaching as they checked me out in my dark, pinstriped power suit, with short skirt and high heels. I’d have to pick one to entertain me soon, but not today.
With my emerald bracelet in hand, I walked into the familiar storefront, which I visited often. There’s only one narrow aisle with clear glass display cases on each side. They were lined with red velvet, on which rested beautiful rings, watches, bracelets, necklaces, and gemstones that sparkled under the fluorescent lights. On the other side of the display was just enough room for the salesperson to open the cases.
This was an old-fashioned store, open for seventy-five years and maintained over the years by the direct descendants of the original owner. Zenali is the only jeweler for me. If I don’t see it, they can order it. If they can’t order it, they can have it created, and I have made some strange requests over the years.
I made my way to the back of the store where the owners sat sipping cappuccino. Their little Shih Tzu dog was sound asleep in his bed behind the main counter. The owner, Zito, greeted me with a hug and pats on my back and I willingly reciprocated the warm gesture. His jovial smile and affectionate welcome always made me feel right at home.
His wife, Mary, appeared from the back room, and smelled like fresh, sweet, bread dough. That smell always made me think they were running an underground bakery in the back. She hugged me with equal affection as her husband, making me feel appreciated for more than just the money. I smelled Realm cologne. I spun around and saw Louie peek out from behind the display case he was cleaning. What a fine specimen. At five feet, ten inches, one hundred and seventy pounds, he was luscious.
Wavy, thick hair as black as the night, combed back perfectly, feathered on either side, but soft, not greasy. Mesmerizing eyes with their deep, chocolate brown color, which combined with his olive skin tone, made him appear like an Italian god. Wow, did I want him. Nevertheless, he was gay, very gay. Trust me, there was no converting him. I’d tried several times. He knew and appreciated one of the reasons why I frequented this shop was to look at him, enjoy his scent, and the sight of his lean body.
“Hello, Leyna.”
“Hello, Louie. Looking beautiful as ever, of course.”
“Oh, if only you were a man,” he replied with a crooked smile that melted me every time I saw it.
“Well, some say while I look like a beautiful woman on the outside, I have very masculine qualities on the inside.”
A boyish grin spread across his face, and he shook his head. Wiping his brow, he turned around to draw my attention back to his parents.
“Sorry, Mary and Zito. I was distracted yet again by the beauty of your…um…fine jewels.” We all laughed.
“That’s okay,” Mary replied, with the same crooked smile her son flashed me moments ago. “What brings you in today, sweetie?”
“I received this bracelet and, frankly, I don’t want it. It was given to me as a gift and I don’t like it. Can you take a look and tell me what it’s worth so I can exchange it for something wonderful?”
“But, Leyna, this is beautiful, and emeralds are your favorite. Why give up such a precious piece? He was such a nice man, too.” Zito looked forlorn.
“It’s a long story. I just want rid of it. Can you please give me the money for it? I’m in kind of a hurry. I’ll start browsing through your stuff here.”
“Okay, sweetheart. I’ll do it right away. You’re always in a hurry, you know. You need to relax and slow down, enjoy your life because time passes quickly,” Zito advised, as he often did.
I rolled my eyes at him. “Yes, Zito, go, go, go, that’s me. But it’s what made me the success I am today. I don’t have time to stop and smell the roses. I don’t even like roses anyway, they make me sneeze.”
While perusing the jewelry, trying to find the perfect piece to make everyone envy my new purchase, a chill ran up and down my spine. I wasn’t cold when I came into the store. As soon as I dismissed the feeling, it happened again, and this time a whisper accompanied it, “Leyna.” It was a woman’s voice, soft and soothing like a sigh. I looked around and only saw Mary, Zito, and Louie going about their business. “Leynaaa.” The whisper made me shudder. I tried to shake it off, but again, “Leynaaa.” I whipped around quickly and shouted, “What?”
Mary rushed over to see what was wrong. I dismissed her concern and focused my eyes on the most wonderful thing I had ever seen.
“What’s this?”
“Oh, it’s an old broken crystal or something like that…parasite or tambourine. We normally don’t carry that kind of low class stuff, but it came with some impressive jewelry from a very wealthy estate. It looks broken and discolored. Maybe I should just take it out of the case.” She seemed annoyed it was in there to begin with.
“No! It’s beautiful.” I was drawn to the strange stone. It was multicolored with a predominance of green and gold, but had every color in the rainbow plus purple, white, and silver. It appeared to have been in a setting at one point and the shape was somewhat of an irregular teardrop. Maybe half a heart.
“What are you talking about, Leyna?” Louie looked at me confused. He moved to my side to examine the crystal more closely. “This is not your style, pretty girl. It looks like a piece of broken beach glass, forgotten by everyone but the sea. Nobody will admire that on you.”
“I agree with you, but look at it. Can’t you feel it? A vibration is radiating from it. I have to hold it in my hands. Louie, get it out for me would you?”
Reluctantly, he walked behind the case containing the estate jewelry and retrieved the stone for me. When he placed it in my hand, a sharp, but very brief, shock came from it, almost like a jolt you feel from static electricity. I dropped the stone to the oriental carpeted floor.
“What the hell is this?” Despite the surprise jolt, I was strangely energized. I needed to have it.
Mary looked at my face, concerned. “Leyna, are you okay? What happened? Maybe you should sit down, you look flushed.”
“Oh no, I need to have the stone. How much?”
I picked it up from the floor and felt the vibration reverberating from its smooth surface. Immediately, there was a rush of something starting at my fingertips and moving up through my hands and arms. What is this blissful feeling? It’s luscious. Much better than the feelings guys had given me. I rubbed my index finger over the jagged edge, thinking it must have been broken, maybe right in half, but where was the other part?
“I need to have this. Please, how much? Mary?”
Mary shook her head in frustration. “I don’t even know how it got into the case; let alone how much it’s worth.”
“Forget it. Keep the bracelet. I’ll take this crystal instead.”
I turned and rushed out of the store, eager to take my find away. As I ran away from the three shopkeepers, who were calling after me, I ran into a homeless man with missing teeth. Brown slime leaked from the gaps, down his chin.
I yelled, “Watch it, buddy! I have nothing for you!”
“Slow down, lady, and enjoy your new gift. It’s time for you to change and discover the true meaning of your life.”
As I rushed off, I looked back thinking, “How strange is that? That leech knew I had found something. He must have been gawking at me through the window. The true meaning of my life. What is the true meaning of my life?”
