Brokenhearted

Shayna’s mommy eyes shone upon the greatest treasure she had ever known. Her little boy was celebrating his third birthday, this time without his daddy. To be able to love so exquisitely twice was a gift without measure. From the fullest and most broken of hearts, she found everyday blessings in watching her son grow into the man his father once was.

If Shayna did not have this little mini replica of his father, she did not know how she could have gotten up in the morning to look for a reason to go on living. But she did have this little boy, and they were on a new journey. Together, they found something sweet, blessed and breathtakingly beautiful in that journey.

Today, the joys outdistanced the pain. Her eyes sparkled with limitless wonder as she watched the little ones eating the birthday cake and making a delightful mess. Today, the love in her heart did not grieve. Today, she could pull up the mental snapshots of she and Ben on their wedding day and through the swift journey through their short married life together without tears tracing rivulets down her cheeks. Today, Shayna thanked God for every moment she enjoyed with Ben and cherished the little boy that they created from that love. Today, she could choose the future she wanted to create with her boy. And it started with this simple act. That morning, she removed the diamond and pink crystal ring from her left hand, held it to her heart, before gently laying it in the blue velvet jeweler’s box. It was time to create a new future. She would not let her Ben be forgotten, but it was time to continue her journey as a single mom and embrace whatever the future brought.

[Word count: 300]

[non winning contest entry: Daily Flash]