The Amethyst Ring

     Suspended precariously over the gently flowing river, the old bridge supported by a vague idea of age-old timbers, creaked & groaned as Katherine walked slowly across. She paused at it's center which rose slightly arched, pondering on her past life. She felt for the ring on the third finger of her left hand holding it out in front, smiling as she studied it, remembering  the moment it had been placed there. Katherine had been so very happy, the memories flooding back into her mind. Tears welled up within her & trickled gently down her ageing cheeks. The years of happiness spent with William now overcame her, their enriched lives together in married bliss would always be cherished. She walked on a few steps then paused again fingering the amethyst ring, admiring it, her thoughts flowing like the endless river beneath her.
     Many years ago Katherine had met William on the same bridge, but the weather had been in the bleak mid winter, ice had formed, encrusting the river banks either side beneath the small arched bridge. The iciness slowing the flow of water for a time during the cold winter. The air had been sharp & frosty that day, her cheeks rosy, cold to the touch, later her heart had been filled with the love she felt for William, they were both still young. She remembered how the wintry blast had gripped her. She had shivered, pulling her scarf closer to her neck to keep out the cold. As she had leant over the wooden railing of the old bridge, she had slipped on an icy patch & an arm had reached out holding her steady, preventing her falling.
     'Are you alright lady?' came a softly spoken man's voice.
     'Oh, I think so - thank you,' replied Katherine a little bemused.
     'You almost fell on that slippery ice there. I'm glad I caught you in time. Please excuse me for grabbing your arm like that,' the man's voice continued.
     'You mustn't apologize. I'm most grateful,' said Katherine. 'You probably saved me from receiving a few bruises, or worse still, broken bones,' she continued. 'Thank you again.'
     'You're welcome. By the way, my name is William.'
     'Mine is Katherine. I'm pleased to meet you.'
     'The pleasure's mine,' grinned William. He paused for a moment, breathing in the cold morning. 'It's very cold today, isn't it?' He shifted from one foot to the other.
     'Indeed it is, but I enjoy walking in the cold air. I find it invigorating.'
     'I do too.' William turned his head slightly, taking in Katherine's features, liking what he saw. 'But I've never seen you before.' He hesitated again, frowning a little as he thought.
     'I don't usually come this way,' said Katherine. 'In fact it's quite a way from home, but the air felt good today after lingering indoors for so long.' She thought how nice William was. He had a gentle manner about him, appeared a little shy too. William looked out across the river, the cold bleakness of the day turning his breath into brief clouds that floated quickly away. He tried not to glance too much in Katherine's direction, suddenly feeling self-conscious.
     They chatted on for a while enjoying the morning stroll, sharing a love of books, discussing many aspects of reading. As time went by they realized they had much in common.
     'May I see you home safely?' William looked over at Katherine, thinking how sweet her face was. He noticed her smile in particular, her pretty mouth & white teeth. She possessed clear blue eyes that sparkled when she laughed, making him feel warm inside, even though the weather was far from warm.
     'Well I live a distance away. It may be completely out of your way.'
     'I don't mind in the least,' said William. 'Can't have you falling on the ice, can I?' He frowned at that moment but hoped her answer would be positive, then a persuasive look in his eyes.
     'That's most kind of you. It's not so far really.' Katherine managed to glance over at William when she thought he wasn't looking in her direction. It was admirable of him to offer. She was compelled to agree. 
     They were both in their late 20's, neither having married or become attached as yet. Katherine lived on her own in an end of terrace house on the edge of a village. William at the other end, a bachelor of independent means, shy where women were concerned. He had only lived there a short time after changing jobs. He now worked for himself as an architect, setting himself up in business after gaining much experience working for a large London company. They had decided to relocate elsewhere, but William had made the decision not to stay with them, preferring the quieter country life where he had been brought up. So far his business had been successful, gaining many new clients in a relatively short time. It was easy to adjust to country life & the local pub, The George, seemed to produce several idiosyncratic village folk he found interesting when he visited the pub for a drink & meal sometimes.
     Katherine was a primary school teacher & loved her job in the village. They had many children attending the local school as lots of young couples had moved into the village & surrounding areas. She & William were beginning to see rather a lot of each other, mainly in the weekends, but occasionally on week nights when Katherine was not marking the children's work. She had plucked up courage to invite William to supper one night in early March if he wasn't too busy. It didn't take him long to agree to her invitation, turning up on time at 7pm as suggested, grasping a decent bottle of red wine & some flowers - white roses he had managed to find still available. He thought she would like white roses.
     'Come in William,' she said. 'I hope you are hungry. I've prepared a French dish. Hope you like coq au vin & there's a chocolate mousse with cream to follow. No strawberries at this time of year I'm afraid.
     'Thank you. I'm sure I'll love that. Sounds wonderful. You must be a good cook.'
     'Oh, I get by,' blushed Katherine, feeling William's gaze on her, becoming a little self-conscious. Handing her the bottle of red wine he said, 'I hope this goes with the chicken dish you have prepared. Thought you'd like white roses too. Bit hard to find them, but find them I did.'
     'Your choice of wine is perfect,' smiled Katherine. 'Thank you William. The roses are beautiful. I'll find a vase for them. I love white roses.' It was William's turn to feel self-conscious. 'You are most welcome. It's good of you to have cooked something that sounds special. I will enjoy a home-cooked meal. I'm not the best of cooks.'
     Together as the evening progressed, whatever shyness they might have felt, vanished & a feeling of warmth grew between them. They enjoyed their time together laughing & joking, spending the evening in deep discussion about the books they were reading, listening to music sharing a bottle of wine.
     After several such suppers, they fell deeply in love. The winter had turned into spring with the bluebells carpeting the nearby woods. Daffodils spilling in clumps onto the lanes, golden they nodded, dancing brightly in the spring sunshine. The snowdrops having first appeared, their white flower heads delicately edged with green tips as though painted on with an artist's brush. They often poked through the cold ground flowering when snow had fallen, their cheery heads thrusting above the whiteness delighting the onlooker, reminding that the winter was nearing its end. The beginning of spring was apparent. In the lanes many wild flowers flourished. Then came the dog roses sprinkled throughout hedgerows, accompanied by tall stems of pink foxglove. The headiness of honeysuckle wafted through the air, when on a warm night in summer when it was Katherine's birthday, they had walked as far as the old bridge, William had produced a small box. Katherine opened it carefully. Nestled in black velvet was a beautiful silver ring with an amethyst embedded in the center. The band of silver was wider where the stone was set, slightly raised so as to be prominent, but perfectly designed.
     'Oh, how beautiful,' gasped Katherine. 'Thank you so much Wills.' She often called him by his nickname. 'It's lovely & simple, but very beautiful.' William took it out of the small box & placed it on the third finger of her left hand. It fitted perfectly. It had been passed down the generations in William's family & all who had worn it had been very happy. It was an old heirloom given to him by his mother who had died suddenly two years ago. She meant him to have the ring as she believed it brought happiness in a marriage. It had been carefully crafted a long time ago & now Katherine would wear it experiencing what he hoped was a family tradition.
     'Katherine, will you marry me?' William now looked very serious. 'You must know I love you very much. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Please, say you will. I'd be lost without you now. I want you to be my wife.'
     'How romantic!  I'd love to marry you Wills. When did you have in mind?' Katherine smiled sweetly up at him feeling rather excited deep down.
     'Tomorrow!' laughed William.
     'That's a little soon don't you think? There may be a few arrangements to make.' Katherine gave a little laugh, then kissed him gently on his mouth.
     'Do we have to make arrangements? Can't we just get married?' retorted William.
     'It's not quite that simple, but yes, as soon as we can, we will.' William made a face at her which made Katherine laugh again. She loved his manner, his complete dedication to the matter in hand, his apparent seriousness. It was all she could do not t0 appear too impetuous herself. But deep down she felt this moment would always be important to her, to them. It would be remembered, cherished.
     Not too long after, they were married in the village church. It had been a lovely warm day in early October, both had looked forward to the day, Katherine wearing a long gown of off-white silk, white roses in her hair with tiny pearls dotted about her veil. She held a bouquet of white roses & looked beautiful, her blue eyes sparkling like the sea, dark hair curling softly flowing down her back & tied up at the sides making her look elegant. William was handsome in a dark suit, a white rosebud in his lapel. They had decided to live in William's house & rent the other one. It had given them another helpful income. Katherine had continued teaching, William becoming rather successful as an architect. Their life together had been happy, they had travelled, sharing many of life's experiences. Their love of books, music & other things had continued over the years.
    
     Katherine stood on the bridge gazing wistfully at the ring she had worn since William first placed it on her finger all those years ago.  She sighed remembering the happy times they had spent together before & after their marriage, her mind reminiscing over the years. The fun, laughter & all they had shared, flooded back into Katherine's mind now, her heart sad after losing dear William recently after a sudden heart attack at the young age of seventy two. Tears flooded down her cheeks. Her life seemed empty now, their marriage had been fulfilled, happy, contented, although they had had no children. The amethyst ring had certainly brought happiness into their lives, or so it seemed. The loss of William was devastating, unexpected. Katherine gazed at the ring again, stroking it, memories vivid in her mind of how they had lived & loved. William had been right, the ring had brought happiness, a blissful contentment she would never forget. He will be with her forever. She knew that.
     Katherine looked up from admiring the amethyst ring she had always loved, the center stone sitting proud in the silver, the sun still warm on her face, a light breeze had sprung up catching the sides of her hair that was slowly turning white. Her face was still beautiful, eyes blue as the sea, but had somehow lost their sparkle. The bridge was even older now, like her she thought, it spanned over the river that had turned icy when she first met William. Over time it had remained intact, its timbers ageing but holding firm. It still creaked & groaned when anyone walked over it. The center of the arch where they had sometimes stood peering into the flowing water, was the most worn. Perhaps other people had paused there, leaning on the rail. The water was not icy today, in fact being October the weather was still unusually warm. Ah, thought Katherine, suddenly remembering , the sunshine spilling across the old timbers of the bridge, today was their wedding anniversary. She gazed nonchalently one last time over the arched rail of the bridge, turned & walked slowly toward home as she wiped away the shed tears . The water continued flowing under the bridge as her love for William would continue until the day she too, would die. But it wasn't going to be today. Katherine smiled gently to herself & walked home.