I paused, considering her words, and what I just learned from my doctor, what I had not shared with anyone, not yet.
‘Yes, life is too short.’ I neared the counter where she stood. ‘I might actually have some clothes that I would be willing to donate. How does that work?’
She smiled and reached under the counter for a business card. ‘Well, anything you have you can ship directly here, or if you call, we can send someone to pick it up. We pay a commission on anything that we sell and—’
I waved a hand. ‘I don’t need a commission.’
‘OK, in that case, that’s fine too – we automatically donate the commission to charity. Again, you can ship to us or we can pick up.’
I regarded the young woman for a minute more. She had to be around Greg’s age. I liked her; she was sparkling, vibrant, so full of life.
Why, oh why, couldn’t he meet a girl likethis?
A girl who laughed and understood the wonder in life and who made people feel warm just by being around her.
But what were the chances of his path crossing with hers? Slim to none at best, especially in this city of millions.
‘I’m Cristina,’ I said. ‘It’s nice to meet you … ’
She held out her hand. ‘Holly, Holly O’Neill. Lovely to meet you, too.’
It was then that I noticed her bracelet. A charm bracelet, just like mine.
‘I really like your bracelet. I have one very like it. I’ve been collecting charms my whole life. I usually have it on, but it’s having a new charm fitted at the moment.’ I smile, thinking of Jeff’s hopefulDate to Remembercharm. We’ll see …
She smiled and shook my hand. The charms jingled around her wrist.
‘It’s fun, isn’t it? Many of these were given to me over the years but I collected some myself, too. And I find that anytime I feel lonely, or feel sad, all I have to do is look down and I realise I am carrying all kinds of memories with me, most of them filled with joy and meaning. I suppose that when you think about life like that, it’s hard to be sad, isn’t it?’
I felt my eyes temporarily well up. ‘Do your charms only highlight the happy times though?’ I asked.
She thought for a moment and then looked down. She played with a charm or two and then settled on a pair of dice, twirling it around her fingers. Then she returned her gaze to me. ‘No, they’re not all happy, but even the bad stuff in life can teach you something, shape you. After all, every story has both good and bad in it, and life can be like that too. I guess it’s what we take away from it that counts. You wouldn’t be able to appreciate the happy times, if you didn’t sometimes experience some sad times as well. At least, that’s what I think,’ she added, blushing a little self-consciously. ‘What about you?’
‘I couldn’t agree more.’
‘Are all of the charms on your bracelet happy?’
I shook my head and thought about one of my most recent additions, the breast cancer ribbon. It wasn’t a happy reminder, but it was a lesson.
‘No, they aren’t all happy,’ I admitted. ‘But they’ve made me the person I am today.’
She smiled at me. ‘Me too. My son always jokes that the story of my life is laid out on this bracelet. He’s almost ten.’
‘A son, how lovely? I have a son too. Yours sounds wonderful.’
‘He is.’ She paused a little and said the next words almost under her breath. ‘I just wish his father realised it.’
‘You’re no longer with his father?’
She looked up, as if forgetting herself. ‘No, not since before he was born. It’s hard sometimes but I do the best I can. At least I hope it’s the best.’
‘I can’t imagine you doing anything other than your best.’
She grinned. ‘You should hear my boss, she thinks I’m a bit crazy. Especially when I try to tell her the stories I imagine behind all these clothes.’
I smiled, realising how much I liked this girl and how much she reminded me of myself when I was younger. Happy and optimistic, and so open and enthusiastic about her joy for life. I try my best to be that way still, but it can be hard sometimes. Yet, I have to believe that I’ll get better. I refuse to not believe it. It’s the only way I’m managing to get through this.
‘It’s funny how things turn out sometimes, isn’t it?’ I said.
