Golden Past

"I want you to remember all the best things in life - That is why I am giving you this camera."

Those were the last precious words my grandfather said to me before he sadly passed away. I will never be able to forget those two sentences because they form the beginning and end of a life.

My name is Jiu Xin-Ma. I am the only person left connected to the Jiu Familia. My mother and father died when I was four years old by inhumane military soldiers and my grandmother died of an unknown life-term illness she was suffering from since the very first time she came into this world.

I would have liked to have someone here with me however, life is life and you cannot stop unfortunate events from unraveling, no matter how hard you try...

Today is yet another tranquil day. Carriages carry passengers of all kinds, the pavements are crowded with couples, children, soldiers, pets and other living beings, mothers simultaneously hang their clothes in routine with their daily lives and the sun starts to appear through the transparent clouds to start the day.

I'm sitting comfortably on a porch swing by a little green shop called "Flora" wearing the same green dress with silk frills underneath as yesterday and the day before. I have literally got almost no dresses left to wear on a day-to-day basis. You are probably pointing out why I have not gone out and purchased a couple of new ones. Well, the former dresses are very special. They are hand crafted by the best craftswoman in the Western Side of the country - Yeva Ming.

I have met Yeva, for the first time, when I was only nine. Coming into the large workshop that Yeva harboured was a tad frightening, even if my mother was there to lovingly hold my dear hand. When Yeva appeared from under a worktop, she was covered from the top of her indigo/pink hair to the bottom of her luxurious silver heeled over-the-knee boots in coal and mud.

"Mae-Hee! Welcome! Oh, and little Xin-xin too." Yeva flamboyantly skipped, with her hands out wide, to where my mother and I stood.

"Yeva. Nice to see you again, dear." Mother returned the enthusiastic hug from her old time friend.

"Nice to see you too." Yeva beamed as she pulled away from mother and placed her hands firmly on her hips.

"Hello there little Xin-Xin. How are you doing this fine day?" Yeva locked her thumb and index finger round my nose and moved it from side to side gently.

"I-I am doing as well as I can be." I meekly uttered while brushing the tip of my nose through my amber winter coat's sleeve.

"A beautiful answer indeed. Nothing less from the Jiu Familia. Anyway, you did not come here for a long conversation, did you? If you would just follow me to my office, I will pack the object that you have ordered there."

Mother and I, along with Yeva, strolled ahead, step by step round the many dusty worktops, through a door composed of iron and past a couple of doors in a cherry-painted corridor to Yeva's office.

"Here you are." Yeva stepped aside as she observed the room cheerfully.

"I'll go pack up your order." She said before disappearing behind an eight foot tower of boxes that, from the looks of it, came from another district.

Curiously glancing around, I came across a magnificent gem perched on the Beachwood-like table. It was the colour of my hair but a bit darker and it glistened glamorously in the bright sunlight that was seeping through the glass window. I walked over to the gem and examined it with great fascination.

"I'm back~!" Yeva's voice increased as she got nearer to where we were.

"Your order is ready to go." She handed my mother the light brown cardboard box with stamps and writing decorated on it.

"Thank you again, Yeva. I don't know what I would do without you. Here are 260 Perkas, the amount the clothes cost." Mother cautiously took the parcel from Yeva and cradled it tightly in her arms.

"Oh you shouldn't have, Mae-Hee. You know, for you, anything I produce is completely free of charge." Yeva frowned.

"I know, I know but I am giving you this as a friend, not a customer. Now take it, I do not accept returns."

Yeva took the bag, made of Velvet, and placed it on the table next to the gem I saw. I looked back at the beautiful stone. It is quite a glorious object to have obtained in a home. It's really a wonder how Yeva had one.

Spotting my gaze on the solitaire, Yeva moved to the table and picked up the yellow item.

"Do you like it?" Yeva asked me whilst focusing on my eyes, waiting for an answer.

Quickly, I shot my gaze at my mother who only smiled at me sweetly. I gulped.

"Yes." I muttered quietly whilst keeping my eyes on the floor.

I heard footsteps being taken towards me. The sound of clacking stopped just two steps away from me. Then the lower part of the body of the person dropped so the knees were outstretched and the upper body was in level with my stomach.

Glancing up, I look at Yeva, who beams her well looked after teeth of white.

"Well then, I want you to have it. Consider it a gift from Auntie Yeva to little Xin-xin." Yeva brought the gem upwards to the front of my emerald eyes.

I reached out my left hand to take the precious jewel presented in front of me. As I took it, I felt a gush of wind swish through my loose hair. After that, the core of my body began to get lighter and brighter as if an angel landed inside and built a civilization.

"Xin-xin?"

"Hmm?" I peeked over to Yeva, who was still crouched.

"I want you to promise me something. If you ever come to my workshop, alone or with a companion, I want you, no, I need you to bring that gem. It is ever so important that I am able to see that Rutile Quartz bijou when you come. Understood?" Yeva gazed into my eyes with a very serious expression.

"I promise, Auntie Yeva. I will bring it every time I come so you can remember it." BI say, glancing back and forth from the gem to Yeva and back again.

"That's a good girl."

So, simply put, if I do go see Yeva I would need to bring the gem with me. It may seem simple to you, however, the bad news is...I do not have the gem anymore.