The Unseen Treasure |- The Ink Well Fiction Prompt #132
Losing her possession was never something she expected would lead to a lesson about valuing what truly matters. Life does have its way of showing us the value of certain items in unexpected ways. Looking back, it quite unfolds how that neglected item ended up becoming one she treasures to have again.
Fumi is a young high school graduate, her first phone, the gadget that first introduced her to the world of technology, vanished in the back seat of a chartered taxi. It was due to her careless mistake, but the value she had attached to it heated up the pain of the loss. Her graduation photos, fellow classmates' numbers, and memories stored in it felt irreplaceable. And just when she thought she was recovering from that setback, she was hit by the painful demise of someone she loved, adding fresh salt to her emotional wounds.
These two experiences were more painful than she could bear. Losing her dad to the cold hand of death was a blow that left a deep ache, alongside the loss of her device. These things were her identity – the love, gestures, kindness, photos, online courses, important contacts, and cherished messages – all gone forever.
The incidents left her with an unceasing fear of losing something dear to her on a daily basis.
"What if it happened again? What if this time I lost another thing I treasure so much?" she asked herself. The fear of losing things she cherished haunted her like a ghost.
Though she understood that death is inevitable and cannot be held back once it strikes, for an item like a phone, she believed she could take precautions to keep it and its contents safe. "I just need to be more careful like Idris once I'm able to save up and purchase a new device," she said, convincing herself that another loss was improbable.
Amidst these worries, her mind went to Idris, her neighbor and school friend who knows how to safeguard the least thing like his life depends on it. For Fumi, Idris was just a regular friend she envied, unable to fathom why she couldn't take that best part of his careful living lifestyle instead his presence in her life was nothing more than that of a casual acquaintance. Their conversations were pleasant, but she had failed to realize the depth of their connection until a certain incident.
One morning, a knock came at the door, and her mom answered it.
"Oh, Idris. How are you this morning?"
"Good morning Mama, I'm doing fine. Is Fumi home?"
"She is. I will just call her for you. Today is her day, so she is at liberty to enjoy all the sleep she wants," her mom said playfully.
"Fumi,Fumi! your friend is waiting at the verandah."
"Alright mum, I'm coming."
After a few minutes, she stepped out.
"Hi Idris, hope everything is good this morning."
"I'm not with a machete or a gun, so we are all safe," he replied, ending with laughter.
"Today is March 25th, the day a beautiful damsel was born. To make it colorful, I got this gift for you as my little way of contributing to your joy."
"OMG, this is something I've treasured having. I have been saving for this since I lost the first one. Oh, Idris, I'm shocked and short of words right now," she exclaimed, hugging him joyfully to express her excitement.
The gift she never dreamt of was a shock that left her truly surprised by his gesture. His act of generosity surpassed the bound on their casual friendship. She was able to understand that their connection held a deeper significance than she had initially thought.
That early hour of the day made Fumi see a side of Idris that went beyond the surface level,he was willing to set his needs aside to support her during a tough time. His kindness showed a part of him Fumi never fully understood. It was as if an unnoticed door had swung open, unveiling the treasure of a true friend who stood by her.
His true generosity was shocking, allowing her to see that treasure comes in various forms. His kind gesture made Fumi see him beyond the label of "friend" and took him as a part of her family.
Nice story from.I enjoyed reading this.losing our treasures could be one of the painful things no one wish to expect but this is the world we live…Fumi was lucky to get her phone back through Idris gifting her on her birthday
Aww, I'm happy to hear you enjoyed my story. Losing something so dear to us is a constant reminder of how unpredictable life is. Sometimes losing something happens unexpectedly and we are left with so much pain. Some cases, we don't value what we have until we have lost it.
Idris surprised gift to Fumi is a strong indication of how connection with others comes with both positive and negative surprises
Thanks so much for reading till the end, I'm grateful.
nice story and I needed to read through the end
Thank you dear.
Idris was truly a Godsent especially when Fumi needed all the help after the tragic loss of property and father's demise.
Good and neighbourly gestures go a long way in building bonds
Yeah, his gesture truly shows the good side of a good neighbor and friend. His act of kindness was an impactful one in the life of Fumi.
Yes... friends are that unexpected gift life brings when everything fails. Friends and family! This was a good story, very pleasant to read. Well done!
You are right, friends and families. I'm glad you found it interesting, I'm grateful for your kind words. Do have a pleasant night.
Fumi emerges wiser and more appreciative of the treasures in her life thanks to a selfless act of care from a true friend.
Yeah, Idris act of kindness did deeper understanding of the treasures that lie within.
@marynn, please take the time to proofread your stories before posting them. We don't expect perfection, but all of our long-time community members have been told many times that there are resources for checking and fixing errors, including Google Docs (a free online Google app described here) or the free version of Grammarly.
Without doing that, you present a story that is laden with errors, which makes it difficult to read. Here is a screen shot from Google Docs showing the errors in the first paragraph. The underlined items indicate an error. In the first instance it is the wrong word. The second instance there is something missing. It makes no sense.
You are a promising writer. You have a creative mind and storytelling skills. But these errors mar the quality of your writing. And they are so easy to fix with the tools we have recommended over and over again. We will not curate this story in the current state.
Thank you so much for your feedback, your words mean so much to me. I've been using Goggle Docs to enhance the quality of my story and I'm sincerely sorry for not following through this time. I understand the essence of consistently employing this tool to ensure error-free content.
I won't let this slip through my mind next time . I have corrected the errors, and I'm grateful that you pointed them out. Thank you once again for helping me grow as a writer. I'm grateful.
Thank you for making those corrections, @marynn. The opening to your story is much easier to read now. The story is sweet. It shows that grief and loss are always mitigated by the gifts of life, including family and good friends. Thank you for sharing your story in The Ink Well and for reading and commenting on the work of other community members.
Thank you very much for your good words, I'm glad the corrections improved the readability of my story. My apologies once again for the difficulty the initial errors caused.
That's true, the support of loved ones and friends can help ease pains.
I'm grateful for the privilege to share my story in this welcoming community and I value the sense of connection and learning from others' works. Your words of encouragement and support mean so much to me. Thank you once again.
This heartfelt story beautifully captures the essence of life's unexpected lessons. Fumi's journey through loss and grief reminds us of the significance of valuing what truly matters. The narrative skillfully portrays the emotional impact of losing both possessions and loved ones, offering a poignant reminder of life's unpredictable nature. The gradual realization of the depth of connection between Fumi and Idris adds a touching dimension to the story, highlighting the power of genuine friendship and the unexpected ways people can become pillars of support in our lives. A moving portrayal of growth, gratitude, and the treasures that reside within the hearts of those who truly care.
Thanks for sharing dear. It's a beautiful story and I enjoyed it.
I'm happy you enjoyed it. I do agree with you, sometimes we don't value what we have until we have lost it. I truly appreciate your thoughtful feedback. Thanks so much dear💐 for taking the time to read and share your thoughts. Your words are much appreciated.
You are welcome dear. Keep up the good work 😊👍