The Ruby Ring
Tell me again about the ruby ring, Grandfather, begged the handsome young man.
Ah, Diego, sighed the old man fondly. You ask me for this story again and again, since you are a little boy. Diego flashed him a dazzling smile and laughed out loud. I know, Grandfather, but I want to hear it again.
The old man got a far away look in his eyes.
We were so young, she and I, he said softly. We were so much in love. I asked her to marry me. I took off my ruby ring, and slipped it on her finger. She said she would wear it until the day we were married, and when she died, she would leave it to our first born grandaughter. Another sigh.
Bad things began to happen in our country, Diego , the old man shook his head sadly.
Her parents were concerned for their family's safety. So were mine. They left, we left....I could never find her. I searched for so many years. Eventually, I met your grandmother, we fell in love....well, you know the rest. And now my grandson is a man himself.
My first love....who knows...if she is still alive, she would be old like me. If she is gone, perhaps she left the ring to her grandaughter, perhaps to someone else. Perhaps one day, if someone is wearing it, you will see it. Perhaps the one who wears it will look like my beautiful Lara did when she was a young woman. If so, the old man laughed, you had best hang on to your heart, young Diego....
