Hannah's Story

Her grandmother had called it her “funny little bibelot”.

It wasn’t much, really. Just a hollow ceramic figurine. A peach, made into a house. A tiny door was glued slightly ajar, and a crooked chimney sat at a jaunty angle, close to the stem. If one peeked through the tiny window on the side, they would be treated to the sight of a little ceramic mouse, knitting beside a cozy painted fire.

Hannah loved this little trinket with a soft fondness that really only showed itself when she picked the peach up. It had always sat in the same spot, on her dresser, for as long as she could remember.

It wasn’t worth much, monetarily. But to her, it meant the whole wide world.

And now it was gone.

Hannah stared at the pieces on the floor, her hand twitching involuntarily at the hollow of her throat. She closed her eyes and tried to keep her balance.

It was just a stupid peach. Just a stupid glass peach. It’s going to be okay.

Hannah drew a deep breath. She was going to be late for her meeting. She had to get going!

She reached for her cell phone. Her hand was shaking. It was this precise action that had caused this ordeal. She was running late. She wasn’t thinking. She was rushing out of her bedroom, reaching out for the phone, when the sleeve of her blazer caught the peach, and sent it flying.

Her funny little bibelot. Shattered on the hardwood floor of her practical condominium.

She couldn’t help it. A low moan escaped her. For some reason, all she could think about was her grandmother’s hands. Stroking her hair. Holding her face. Soft and wrinkled. Gentle as a prairie breeze…

This was stupid. She had a meeting!

Hannah straightened and blinked once. Then twice more. She looked down at the sleek black phone in her hands, and checked the time.

Twenty minutes. She could still make it, if she took a cab.

The broken peach would have to be swept up later. Hannah turned her back on them and walked from the room.

It was just a stupid peach. It didn’t mean anything, anyway. She could buy another one on ebay. This meeting was important.

Hannah let the tears slip down her face in back of the taxi cab. She’d give anything to not be where she was at this moment.

All she wanted was to sit and knit. Beside a cozy painted fire.