Holding His Breath For Her

Since he was a little boy, it had always been a story he had always heard about, passed along between generations, whispered about late at night, in the shadows between buildings, lost amongst the winding alleyways - a tale a father would tell his son as he tucked him in, persuading him to go to sleep. Long ago, when ships were still powered by the wind, an ancient merchant vessel had come into port, looking to restock on supplies before heading out back into the sea. Rumor had it that on board was one of the most beautiful rings to ever be molded - a massive diamond accented with emeralds and sapphires, encased in the purest of golds. It had traveled between lands - never taking permanent residence on someone's finger - traded back and forth between those fortunate enough to possess it.

The seas on the night the ship had planned to leave port were turbulent, tossing the smaller boats tethered to the docks against the pilings, sending the usually present gulls into hiding, and taking away large swaths of the beach with every crashing wave. Regardless, the captain pressed on - unconcerned with the imposing weather. The ship hadn't made it far when the current pushed it out of the narrow channel and into the reef that surrounded the coast - shattering it's back like a twig, casting its content and crew out into the sea, to be lost amongst the swells. By the time the water had calmed the next morning, no one had washed up to shore and all that remained were splintered pieces of the vessel, strewn about on the depleted beach.

By this time in his life, years later, the boy, now a young man didn't know if the ring truly existed, but everyday the weather allowed, men went out into the bay and dove, searching for the precious jewerly. Hoping, praying, they would find it and alter their lives.

He had stayed down for as long as he could. Until his lungs felt like they were going to collapse, his ear drums burst, and his blood boil. His body had yearned for oxygen. The deeper he dove, the more his body wanted to drag him to the surface, make him take a breath - make him live. Every joint ached. Every muscle cried out - pleading with him to not stay down as long on the next breath.

But they wouldn't need to anymore.

As he broke through the surface, breathing deeply, he knew that it was still in his hand, wrapped up in the center of his first. He didn't want to look at it, reveal to the world that he had found it - knowing that others would come after him, try to pry it from his fingers. Although he didn't hold it up above the water, anyone watching had to know he had found something - whether it be from his wide eyes or the smile spread across his face.

He had seen it nestled in amongst two pieces of coral, covered by a fine layer of sand - but it spoke to him - yelled at him, grabbing his attention. It was the most stunning thing he had every seen.

Growing up, everyone in the community always referred to it as their treasure, as if they had found it already, speaking about it with puffed out chests, proud of their imaginary find. They wanted the attention, the fame - to be known amongst their peers.

But none of that mattered to him, all he wanted to be was known to her. And hopefully, when he gave the ring to her, she'd finally know how much she was worth.

She was his treasure.