The Pier, Miraflores – 12:00 PM
Mila got out of the car followed by the Roths—Elaine and Aaron, Eli’s parents. It was, for a change, a cloudless day and the pale blue sky announced a brilliant day. As it also was the day of a new beginning, and perhaps, the most important adventure of her life.
Mila’s dazzling, but simple, white lace dress shone brighter under the golden midmorning sun and the Pacific ocean. In her hands, instead of a flower bouquet, she held a white gold mezuzah necklace interlaced in her fingers. It belonged to Eli.
Eli’s parents and his first love walked in silence to the boat prepared for them at the pier which was, as always, sprinkled with people sitting on benches in the strip of green while others sunbathed. Aaron, Elaine, and Mila got into the boat and rowed to a safe distance. Mila waved a hand and returned the surfers’ greetings and best wishes on her special day as they rested, sitting on their boards.
Aaron and Elaine gazed at each other with tired, saddened eyes. They wished they had visited their son while he was there, to trace their routes and remember their talks facing the open ocean.
As the boat rocked gently, back and forth by the light waves, Mila shared with them the moments Eli and she had spent together in that very spot. “Eli loved coming here, to the sea. He ran in the mornings. We pretended to hold class on this beach, swimming, surfing, talking…” She gazed at the sea all around them. “Neither of us knew we were falling in love and neither of us knew what to do until we ran out of time.” Mila wiped the sudden tears that escaped her eyes. “Eli was so loving and so kind. He waited for me to come out of the depression after my mother’s death. He could have gone back home, but he stayed for me.”
“Eli loved you, Mila,” said Elaine, unable to contain herself as her tears wet her cheeks. Aaron embraced his wife, feeling his own pain crushing his chest.
“I know. I regret…” Mila looked down at the mezuzah in her shaky hand, considering a different outcome if she hadn’t lost her memory, “I regret recovering my memory too late! If I could have remembered him and the beautiful love we had for each other…” A couple tears splashed against the vase. “Maybe we wouldn’t be here.”
“You mustn’t think like that, Mila, please!” Aaron intervened, reaching for Mila’s hand. “Eli would never blame you or force his love into your life. He would really want the best for you. As do we.”
“The Highest gives and the Highest takes away,” whispered Elaine, reciting those words to make them true in her soul and mind. She embraced Mila with the mother’s love that remained in her heart. They both welcomed each other, leaning their heads on each other’s shoulders for strength, agreeing on a silent pact in which they were united by love and loss.
Mila gripped the necklace that Eli’s parents had given him upon adopting him. “Eli, my first love and my innocence, here you stay near me, near what we lived together, near the conversations we had and the laughter. You stay in this sea of grey waters; you stay in my soul, healing the wound that your absence would keep open. Your love was good to me, my friend, my love of a beautiful heart and turquoise eyes.”
“May I?” Elaine asked for the mezuzah and kissed it, then she handed it to Aaron so he could place it where it would remain for the special day.
Mila lowered her head, accepting the fine pendant in Eli’s memory.
“Now part of him is where he should be, in this little jewel with you and near your heart, and with us,” said Aaron, his deep blue eyes bathed her in kindness.
“Brides shouldn’t have swollen eyes on their wedding day,” Elaine said, wiping Mila’s tears. “Now, Aaron, row fast, we have a wedding to attend.”
“Did Eli ever tell you what we believe about couples?” asked Aaron, rowing to the shore as fast as he could.
“Couples are made in heaven,” replied Mila with a gentle smile.
“That’s right, my dear, that’s right.”