Silver bracelet

“Watching the sunset never gets old,” I thought to myself. Its magnificent golden glow mixed in with the reddish sky only added to the marvelous scene.  

“Grandpa, how come you're always watching the sunset,” my grandson asked, walking over to where I sat perched in my rocking chair outside. 

“Well, Joseph,” I said clearing my throat, “There’s a certain type of validity in watching the sunset. When it goes down here, it is rising somewhere else. When it is no longer our light, it becomes the light for someone else. I’ve always found that fascinating.” 

“Grandpa, you never make any sense,” Joseph replied. 

I chuckled before saying back, “All I’m saying is that the good in the world doesn’t stop when we can no longer see it. I was making a metaphor, something your school should’ve taught you about.” 

“Wow, grandad,” Joseph laughed, “I see you’re never out of any comebacks.” 

“When you’ve been alive since the stone ages, it becomes natural,” I said. 

“You got that right,” Joseph smiled, “Say, how come you’re always wearing that silver bracelet? I’ve always wondered why.” 

“Ahh,” I began, glancing at the seemingly plain silverness of my bracelet, “It’s more so a symbol than anything. 

“A symbol of what?” My grandson impatiently asked. 

“Hey, settle down, all good stories take time to get to the main part,” I pointed out, “Anyways, your grandma’s favorite color was silver. I never knew there was a meaning behind it until I finally asked her. She replied that the color silver was significant because of how it could reflect the energy it received, whether positive or negative. She explained that since energy cannot be created or destroyed, that a constant feed of positive energy would be an endless loop of goodness. After she passed away three years ago, I figured the best way to honor this perspective was to get a “loop” in the form of a silver bracelet. It’s like, if I surround myself with positivity, it won’t ever cease...of course anything can happen, but this optimism is key in my faith.” 

“Wow, grandad,” Joseph said shocked, “I never would have thought that.” 

“You’re not good at hiding when you’re confused,” I replied.  

“Haha, it’s just that silver is just a color. What does that have to do with energy?” Joseph questioned. 

“It could have been any color,” I said back, “It’s the belief that we put into it that gives it value. For instance, the comparison I made earlier about good happening whether we see it or not is a belief. With this credence, it gives rise to hope, and that’s what keeps me...us going.”  

“Imma be honest, grandad,” Joseph replied, “I was at school for eight hours today, and I feel like you’re overloading my brain even more. Is there like a simpler way to describe this?” 

“Fine, this bracelet symbolizes a continuous stream of hope,” I answered. 

“I feel like if you would have said that the first time, I wouldn’t have been so confused,” Joseph said. 

“Sure, but you would’ve missed out on the story,” I explained. 

“Good point,” Joseph stated, “Hey, isn’t it kind of late for you to still be outside?” 

“Am I that boring to talk to?” I humorously replied. 

“No, not at all,” Joseph smiled, “Just that mom is pretty strict about you getting inside on time.” 

“I’m her dad, she can’t tell me what to do,” I responded. 

“That’s not the p-.” Joseph started. 

“Joseph, it’s time to eat,” my daughter shouted out the kitchen window, “If my dad is still outside, tell him it’s time to come in.” 

“Right on cue,” I grinned, “Go inside kid, we can do some more catching up another time.” 

“See ya later, grandad,” Joseph said, “I might get a silver bracelet of my own.” 

The door clicked shut as Joseph made his way inside the home. All the while, I thought to myself, reflecting on the life I had lived. I felt a sort of pride in knowing that I had not taken the easy route in life... that I stuck it through and reaped the benefits. On the other hand, I wondered what I would be doing if things had gone differently. What would my wife and I have done if she had lived longer...one year, one month, or even one more week? Before long, a tear silently fell down my face, a constant reminder I could never get back time.  

“Dad,” my daughter said as she came outside, “You’re always outside late. You know what the doctor said.” 

Surprised at the sudden intrusion, I cleared my throat, saying, “Oh, Elizabeth, I like the peace and quiet, that’s all.” 

Taking note of my sentimental expression and that I was holding the silver bracelet in my hand, Elizabeth said, “It’s okay dad, I miss mom, too.” 

“You always were a clever one,” I said. 

“You’re just not as slick as you think,” my daughter smiled, “Oh, and Joseph told me about the origin of the silver bracelet. He thinks that is the coolest thing ever. He also noted that you’re probably the wisest person he knows so there’s that.” 

“Joseph really is a bundle of energy, isn’t he?” I spoke. 

“Runs in the genes,” Elizabeth replied. “Well, I thought since you were already up late, we could make this a family game night. The kids enjoy playing with you.” 

“It depends on which game it is,” I smiled. 

“Don’t worry, it’s not Monopoly. We wouldn’t want you throwing any board again talking about, 'the dice are rigged', " Elizabeth laughed. 

“I can get competitive,” I said, slowly standing up and grabbing my cane for balance.  

15 minutes later 

“Oh c’mon, I’m clearly a dog,” I said. 

“And that’s minus a point,” Elizabeth replied. 

“Grandad, you know you’re not supposed to talk, it's charades,” Joseph laughed. 

“Oh, you know me and my memory,” I began, “Perhaps old age should prevent us from losing a point.” 

“Fine,” Elizabeth said, rolling her eyes. 

“No fair, mom, he made that rule up,” Ava, my granddaughter, said. 

“It’s fine, they’re still going to lose, anyway,” my daughter responded. 

“That’s it, Joseph, it’s game time,” I said, patting Joseph on his shoulder. 

“Game time,” Joseph grinned back. 

Minutes later

“Easy, you’re a wall,” Ava said to Elizabeth, who was standing motionless. 

“There is no way in Neptune that you guessed that without cheating,” I declared, “You must’ve pulled a funny trick while Joseph and I were strategizing.” 

“Calm down grandad, for starters, I made the phrase, and, secondly, her stance looked like a wall to me,” Rose said smirking. 

“You’re lucky that made sense,” I retorted. 

Joseph went up next and pointed at his ear.  

“Ear wax I shouted...no wait ear. It is an ear, I said it, it’s an ear!” I exclaimed. 

“Dad, take a deep breathe,” Elizabeth chuckled, “You’re getting rowdier than the kids!” 

“Oh, fine,” I said, “Tie game.” 

I sat back for a moment, feeling alive and in the moment, but I also felt a heavy toll on my body...it was like something within me was close to snapping. 

“Grandpa, it’s your turn now,” Joseph said, pulling me back into reality.  

“Time to score another point,” I responded, grabbing a card of what I would portray:  a basketball player. 

I stood up, relieved that the weight of before had been lifted, maybe it was never there at all. The moment I began moving my arm changed everything, though. Whatever inside that felt like it may snap earlier, snapped now. 

“Ow,” I screeched, suddenly falling to the ground. 

“Dad,” Elizabeth screamed, running to my side, “Joseph call 911, Ava go get grandad’s emergency kit on his night-stand.  

“Everything’s going to be alright,” my daughter insisted, even squeezing my hand as I now lay motionless on my back. 

Like a light in each room of a home being turned off one by one, it felt as though each part of my body was shutting down. I squeezed her hand back, or at least I tried to. 

“It’s okay,” I whispered, barely audible. 

“No dad, you’re going to be okay, the ambulance is on their way now,” Elizabeth said as tears flooded down her face.  

My eyes soon felt the same closing as perceived elsewhere. I took one last glance at my silver bracelet, a remembrance of the limitless flow of positivity I had welcomed into my life. My eyes eventually closed, and my sun finally set, welcoming the new rise to the light of the eternal life that lied ahead. 

“Hey, you,” I heard off in the distance.