Fiction: Album

English
Album
Dora was a very curious girl, her long brown hair matched her brown eyes, which focused on grandma's old album, which lay on the bookcase, issuing a silent invitation to the young girl.

After a few stealthy steps, she approached the bookcase and with the gentleness of a cat pulled out the album, her long slender fingers firmly gripping the photo book, she could feel a few beads of sweat running down her forehead.

Once in full control of the album, Dora turned around, and that instant her grandmother caught her red-handed. "Aha, gotcha, girl. No crime goes unpunished," Grandma was saying to Dora and with a great laugh that devoured her wrinkled face.

"Sorry, Grandma, I was just curious to see the photo album one more time. I know you asked me not to touch it when I was alone, but I couldn't stand the urge to see the photos of your childhood and youth again." Dora's eyes glistened as tears circulated her eyeball.

"It's okay, little disobedient girl, it's not that big of a deal, I just don't want the album ruined, the memories in it are very precious to me. While dinner's on let's take a look at it." Grandma took Dora by the hand and they went to the living room, where a red wine-colored and very cushioned sofa was waiting for them.

The happy little girl ran pulling her grandmother with great haste, once on the couch, granddaughter and grandmother were ready to go through the album once more. The pages opened hastily before the dance of the fingers that moved them with an unparalleled caress.

The album showed some photos, already yellowed, others torn and worn by the constant manipulation of the generations that preceded Dora. The girl looked happily at those photos that showed a life so different from the present time.

Dora's incessant questions flooded the living room space decorated with wallpaper with drawings of sunflowers barely visible due to the passage of time and a carpet in the center of the place of a dark reddish color on the floor of the honey-colored stave.

Grandma kept turning the pages with her fingers punished by the routine of housework, at that instant, Dora asked her about a photo of a soldier, who was with a rifle and an old-fashioned uniform. "Who is he?, grandmother" The girl's finger rested on the photograph.

"He was a love I had, before your grandfather, his name was William." Grandma's eyes sparkled as she remembered that mysterious man.

Dora would say to her. "Tell me the story of your love with William, Grandma."

Grandma would smile and begin to recount her romance with William. "I remember I was a girl just starting in life, it was during the great war that I met William, a handsome young man of blue eyes, hair like the sun itself, and as tall as a bear and just as stocky."

"Oh, grandmother, how romantic, go on..."

"Anyway, I remember it was an October afternoon, autumn was coming and I was going out to the market to buy some things my mother had ordered for me. After returning with the errand, two thieves came out asking me for money, when I refused, one of them took out a knife and tried to stick it in my stomach, at that moment, William came out of the shadows and fought against the thieves who, when they were defeated, ran away."

"Oooh, Grandma, that was very heroic," Dora said enthusiastically as if it were a fairy tale.

Grandma would pick up the story. "After that chilling moment, William gave me a beautiful smile, I will never forget that beautiful smile that captivated me and made me fall prey to his beautiful words. He offered to take me and took me by the hand, at that instant, I felt my stomach turn and my legs were shaking, it felt like I was going to faint."

"That's so sweet, Grandma, like a Mexican story, hehe."

"After that, she asked if I would accept her going out for a drink around, after consulting with my parents, the answer was yes. The big day arrived and I felt that everything was spinning, thousands of anxious ideas were going through my head. The doorbell rang and in my mad rush to go out to see, I tripped and fell flat on my face. Blood was gushing from my nose and after the pertinent cures I was ready to go out with my adored William."

"Grandma, that man sure made you lose the ground you were walking on. Hehe."

"After going for coffee and chatting for several hours, I had been smitten by his gallantry, chivalry, and intelligence. After many dates and understanding each other like soul mates, the moment I had longed for the most came, the first kiss." Grandma looked at the photo and let out a deep sigh.

"Grandmaaaa!, don't stop at the most exciting part, go on..."

"It happened at the door of my house, after returning from our date. He grabbed my hand and pulled me close, so close that I could feel his delicious vanilla breath. The moment intoxicated me and my mind flew between sensations I had never felt before. I closed my eyes as I let myself be carried away by his manly hands cupping my face, and then I felt warm lips next to mine. At that moment, the world at my feet disappeared and I flew free and happy."

"Grandma, how exciting, your first kiss and it was wonderful, I hope mine will be that sublime. And then what happened?"

"After a few months of intense romance, we had decided to get married, we started with the preparations, and the date was set for the event, but the unthinkable came, the great war broke out and William was drafted as a matter of urgency. My heart felt the desolation, and the great tightness in my throat seemed to choke me. Tears fell uncontrollably like waterfalls from eyes that would never see my handsome gentleman again."

"Granny, that's very sad, and then..."

"I went to see him off, I saw him in that same uniform in the photo. He was pretending to be strong, but his blue eyes had faded and the sparkle had turned to sadness. He kissed me goodbye for the last time and climbed into the boat. His arm was waving as if he wished he could fly and reach me, to fly away from that horrible nightmare."

"Oh, Grandma, you'll make me cry."

"After a few months and after not hearing from William, the news came in a black coupe with white-faced tires. An officer pulled up to the house and handed me an envelope. Something in me knew that nothing good would come from inside. Those letters made my world fade away and when I woke up I was in a hospital, after that, my life changed forever and I just spent the day crying and looking at that last photo he sent me."

"What a sad story, grandma, I imagine there you lost faith in love?" asked Dora showing her glassy eyes.

"That's how it was for a long time until I met your grandfather, who came to mend my heart and give me new hope. Even though life is hard, there will always be faith in love. Don't forget that, Dora."

"I won't, Grandma, but I won't fall in love with a military man. Hehe..." Granddaughter and grandmother laughed as they closed the photo album that contained many stories of personal experiences and unforgettable loves perpetuated in time.

The end