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“Tell me the story again,” Stella murmured, leaning back against Brandon’s shoulder. Her fingers traced the rim of the pocket mirror, enamoured with the meaning of the simple object. Brandon chuckled and rested his head on hers, watching the Eraklyon sunset.
“Okay,” he said softly, ready to repeat it again. He’s glad he knew it so well.
“My great-grandfather fell in love with my great-grandmother at first sight. Day after day he tried to win her over, and when they finally ran away together, he gave her this mirror as his promise to love her forever.” The words came easily to him.
“They raised their children with the story. When my grandfather met someone, his parents gave him the mirror to pass on, if he wanted, as a symbol of his own love for her. Knowing what it meant, she cherished it.”
“My grandfather passed away shortly after my father was born, but my grandmother made sure he knew what the mirror meant. She wanted him to remember what it stood for, so he could pass it on to the one he loved the most.” Brandon paused, savouring the moment. “My father even planned to propose with it. But then he lost it.”
Stella gasped dramatically, hand to her chest. Her eyes glimmered with amusement and awe. “No way! So how did he get it back?”
“It was my mother who found it. She thought it was beautiful, without knowing anything about its history. By the time she met my dad, he and his girlfriend– who he never did propose to– had broken up. Eventually, they fell in love. On their wedding day, my dad told my mom the whole story. He told her she was the one he wanted to give it to, and was disappointed he couldn’t. But then she pulled that mirror from her bag. It was the very mirror he had lost years ago.”
Stella giggled, whispering, “Aww.” Brandon smiled and went on.
“From then on, it became the symbol of love in my family. Mom always said they wanted to keep it going for as long as they could.” His eyes lit up as he reached the part he always loved. Telling it to Stella now took him back to nights when he’d beg his mom to repeat it over and over again. He’d always been a romantic.
“You know,” he said after a pause, leaning closer, her head still on his shoulder. “My mom always told me that it would be my turn someday. She’d say, “Brandon, one day you’re going to meet someone very special. And when you know you really love them, you’ll give them the mirror. They’ll know what it means." He drew out “someone very special” with a playful grin, bumping his knee against hers.
“You gave it to me,” she affirmed.
“I gave it to you,” Brandon whispered back.
“What if I don’t know what it means?” she teased, eyes glinting. She knew, of course. She just liked hearing him say it. And he never minded letting her know.
“It means I’ll love you forever,” he replies, voice steady and full of affection. “I’m yours. Always.”