The brooch’s secret

Thick clouds gathered in the sky.

The brisk wind carried the hum of conversations, the sound of laughter and the clinking of coins over to her.

Although the weather rather reminded you of a cold, rainy winter's day, with heavy clouds overhead and the world muted in grey, many people attended the monthly fleamarket of the village.

The cold air was filled with the scent of tasty food, fresh flowers, aged wood, old books, and a hint of dust.

The marketplace was quite crowded, with elderly couples strolling along the colourful stalls, children darting through aisles, and families browsing around, everyone was cheerful and happy.

Shivering, Charlotte pulled the collar of her coat higher.

She sighed and thought about how much more fun it would be if her mom came with her.

Usually, they did everything together, be it going on adventures, or just relaxing at home.

They have been planning to attend the fleamarket for such a long time, Charlotte excitedly anticipated this day for weeks.

This morning, her mother woke up with a strong migraine, a condition that plagued her quite often.

She would lay down with a cold cloth on her forehead in a dark room, and wait until the pain would subside.

The young girl was very disappointed, so her mother insisted Charlotte should go on without her, she would be fine.

As if that would be any fun!

These days Mom was quite down and often worried, for their financial situation wasn’t the best.

Charlotte decided to take her painstakingly saved-up money and buy something nice for her mother to cheer her up and bring a smile to her worked-up face.

Now, Charlotte walked through the narrow, bustling aisles alone, looking at the many, creatively adorned stalls of the vendors.

There were old books, trinkets, vintage clothes, handmade crafts, antiques, food stands, and curiosities.

Despite the cold weather, the ambience of the market was quite cosy, and just like the sky, where the dark clouds started to clear up, Charlotte’s mood lightened up too.

She looked around with interest, and suddenly felt an open curiosity for what she would discover on this flea market full of life.

As Charlotte strolled around, one certain stall with a vibrant fabric roof particularly caught her eye.

Beautiful, old-fashioned jewellery was nicely arranged.

The vendor, an old lady put each piece in its place, with visible love and care.

As Charlotte came closer, she saw a magnificent silver brooch.

It was a rhombus-shaped accessory with beautiful flourishes and a sparkling amethyst in the middle.

Charlotte was instantly drawn to this lovely piece and thought that this was a perfect gift for her mother, who couldn’t come with her due to this dreadful migraine.

The round lady smiled widely at Charlotte, inviting her to look through the neatly arranged jewellery without hesitation and as much as she liked.

"Thank you, but I think I already found my special little treasure..."

The front door creaked, as it always did when Charlotte quietly stepped into the house.

The paper bag, in which the friendly saleswoman had wrapped the brooch, rustled in her coat pocket.

She heard Mom calling from the living room "Charlotte is that you, are you back Dear?"

"Yes Mom, it’s me!"

Charlotte hid the paper bag behind her back and approached her mother, who was lying on the sofa, pale but way better than she’d been in the morning.

"How was it at the fleamarket, did you buy something?"

Her mother tried to peek with obvious interest behind Charlotte’s back.

"Indeed I have!" The young girl excitedly handed her mother the gift.

Mom unwrapped it, Charlotte couldn’t contain her enthusiasm.

"I saw it among so many other accessories and jewellery, and knew that you’d love it!"

Her mother stared incredulously at the brooch that sparkled in her hand before bursting into disbelieving tears.

"My brooch! That’s definitely mine!" She exclaimed.

Charlotte was more than confused. Of course, it was her mother’s brooch, she just gifted it to her!

"I never thought that I’d see it again!"

An explanation was more than needed after her mother said that.

"You see Charlotte, I lost this exact brooch when I was only your age. It was a gift from my grandmother, she gave it to me when I was little."

Charlotte was delighted, yet not completely convinced.

"But how can you know that it is truly yours? Maybe many brooches are looking like that."

Her mother decidedly shook her head.

"I am absolutely sure. You see this little, triangle notch in the amethyst? My grandma used to tell me that a gust of wind shoved it off her scarf and the brooch fell on gravel.

Yet the only damage was this notch, I looked at it many times.

I always cherished this brooch, wore it so often, and loved it very much.

One fateful afternoon I took a walk in a park nearby, and I must have lost it then for I never found it afterwards.

I was heartbroken, for it was the only keepsake I had left from my then-deceased grandmother.

I spent hours in that very park searching every path and bush for my precious brooch but never found it.

And now you come home from the fleamarket, and bring with you my beloved brooch I believed vanished for so many years Charlotte!"

She happily hugged her daughter, tears of joy streaming down her thin cheeks.

Since this significant afternoon, Mom has smiled more often and has been happier than before Charlotte found this long-lost keepsake.

At the next family gathering, her mother cheerfully wore the amethyst brooch, just the way she had done before it went missing.

Charlotte was very grateful and amazed at how everything had fallen perfectly into place, and that her mother’s treasured piece finally found its way home.

How it was found so many years ago, and what journey it took to finally be returned to its rightful owner, that will remain the brooch’s secret...