My birthday (part III)

Carefree, there I was, bachelorette surrounded, never caring less. I was now in my swimsuit, and thinking my day couldn't really get better. If my birthday ended now, I'd still see it as the best one yet.

The carefree-ness affected my vision, too. I walked right past the sign that read "MINERAL TUB WILL TARNISH SILVER JEWELRY." No worries. I knew i had none. I wasn't a jewelry wearer anyway. Gosh, I'm pretty low maintenance, huh? Now, post-massage ecstacy delerium has me thrilled and proud to not be wearing jewelry. My wooden boat doesn't count, does it? Not the wooden boat i wear around my neck that has broken so many times, it's a conglomerate of something wooden that with a good facelift may again resemble something once pretty. And, no, those aren't extra sails on the boat- it's gorilla glue..

So there I am, perched in my very first hot spring, wooden sailboat happily afloat. And as I looked down at my body through the bubbling water, to my surprise, there it was. I saw my hand lifting out of the water, towards my face. There, on my pinky, was my gold friendship ring shining, and beneath it, my silver elephants black as coal. My love ring from Him. Tarnished, dulled, and left dark by the waters healing me. My new day of healing had begun.

My trip to the cafe shortly after was not the gluttoness indulgence I had anticipated. I easily passed the nachos and calzones and walked to a table in the sun with a salad, fresh, juicy berries, and, of course, a glass of champagne.

My black ring sits on my hand now, as I write, a dark reminder of all that's gone, and what now must die. As i toast myself with my champagne, I feel the sun shining down on me and this mountain i'm at the foot of, taking me back, taking me away, lifting the pain. I've waited patiently for my hope to return, and with my eyes squinting towards the mountain top, I can see it coming.