Jason and his wife, Astra, lived together in an apartment by the sea. Though they weren't very rich, they somehow managed to buy this amazing apartment where they could have peace and fresh air. Jason has promised Astra that after they get married, they would live by the ocean and watch those beautiful waves every day. She always said, "The ocean is everything I want to be. Beautiful, mysterious, wild, and free." They loved the electricity running through them with each breath of the serene, moist sea breeze.
They had the most beautiful planter in their tiny garden, with blooming flowers, which they tirelessly watered every day. It was a small bush of blue lilacs. They wished to see it grow tall and beautiful someday. Jason had a wooden chair that he loved dearly and would relax on it whenever he was home. It was a rocking chair made of fine quality wood that they had bought in the early stages of their marriage. This was before Jason lost his substantial job. Whereas Astra was a typical bookworm. She could read novels all day long. Sometimes she would read one she could relate her life to, other times she would just sit at her favourite spot by the sea reading like it was her last day alive.
With Jason's job at the factory, they didn't have much money on themselves, but they were content with it. They lived quite a meagre life but as they say, 'It doesn't matter how long or big your life is, what matters is how you live it.' It was all going great until one day they had a huge fight. Like always, they fought on a very trivial matter, but it was a little different this time. They were so engulfed by rage, that they said pretty hurtful words to each other.
For days, they did not talk to each other. It was becoming harder as days passed. They had experienced this kind of silence before but did not want to go through it again. It used to be a very noisy household before their two-year-old daughter died due to pneumonia. This stillness was just like the one after she died. In the coming days, the sea lay tranquil and calm. There was no thrill and excitement. Their blue lilacs drooped lower and lower. Neither would accept their mistake.
One day, sitting on his chair, Jason thought that this was not the life he had promised his wife. He could no longer stay away from her. He loved her too much to dread another day without talking to her. An idea popped into his mind. He decided that no matter how much it hurts, he will do this for her. He had to apologize for the nasty words he had said to her. He carried his chair to the terrace and started his work.
The next day, he went to Astra, gave her his masterpiece, and made a sincere apology. She was thrilled to see a perfectly carved wooden bookshelf. He then told her how he had chopped off his chair to build this case for her. Suddenly, it seemed like she remembered something, and she tensed up. Within a second her eyes became teary and sad. Seeing her, he stood confused. She told him how she was feeling guilty too and had sold away all her books to buy a silk cushion for his chair. Hearing this, he was stunned. They stood staring at each other and thinking about what they had done.
After a few precious moments, they smiled and soon burst out in laughter. That day they saw the true love between them, and their precious lilacs bloomed again. Even though the gifts they prepared for each other were now useless, they had their love which left a mark on their hearts like those tender waves crashing on the shore and leaving their impression on the wet sand. Sometimes this love was gentle and good, sometimes it was rough and fearful but above all, it was endless and more powerful than the sea, the earth, and everything beyond that.
[This story is inspired by the story, 'The Gift of the Magi' by 'O. Henry'.]
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