The Missing Golden Locket

In a busy university campus, a young girl named Althea loved spending her afternoons under a large acacia tree. It was her favorite spot to read, draw, and clear her mind after long classes. The tree’s wide branches gave her shade, and the soft breeze always seemed to whisper calming words.

One sunny afternoon, Althea sat beneath the tree, sketchbook in hand. She drew the acacia tree’s twisted branches, adding tiny birds in the background. As she shaded the leaves, something shiny caught her eye near the tree’s roots.

Curious, Althea set her sketchbook aside and brushed the dirt away. She gasped when she uncovered a beautiful golden locket. It looked old, but it still gleamed brightly in the sunlight. Carefully, she opened it and found a picture inside — a young woman with curly hair and bright eyes.

“Wow,” Althea whispered. The face seemed familiar, but she couldn’t place it.

Turning the locket over, she noticed a name engraved on the back: \"Myreen.\"

“This must be important,” Althea thought. “I should find out who this belongs to.”

Later that day, she met up with her best friend, Ramon, in the library. She showed him the locket.

“Do you know anyone named Myreen?” she asked.

Ramon leaned closer to inspect it. “No,” he said, shaking his head. “But maybe we can ask around.”

Over the next few days, Althea and Ramon asked students, professors, and even the campus security guards. No one recognized the name or the locket.

“Maybe you should keep it,” Ramon suggested one afternoon.

“No,” Althea insisted. “Someone’s missing this. I have to keep trying.”

Feeling discouraged, Althea returned to her acacia tree. She sat beneath it, turning the locket over and over in her hand. Just then, she overheard an elderly man speaking with the campus gardener.

“I used to sit here with my wife,” the man said with a sad smile. “She loved this tree. But she\'s gone now... and my daughter left a long time ago.”

Althea’s heart skipped a beat. She stood and walked toward the man. “Excuse me, sir,” she said softly. “Is this yours?” She held out the golden locket.

The man’s eyes widened, and his hands trembled as he reached for it. “This... this was my wife’s,” he said, his voice breaking. “And this is my daughter, Myreen.”

“What happened to her?” Althea asked gently.

The old man sighed heavily. “I wanted her to become a doctor, but all she wanted was to open a flower shop. We argued... I told her she was wasting her life. She left that night. I haven’t seen her in years.”

Althea felt a deep sadness in his words. “I’ll help you find her,” she promised.

The old man gave her an old address where Myreen had once lived. “I don’t know if she’s still there,” he warned, “but it’s all I have.”

The next morning, Althea and Ramon set off on a bus to a small town outside the city. The town was peaceful, with cobblestone streets and charming little shops. The air smelled like fresh bread and blooming flowers.

“Let’s start asking around,” Althea said.

They visited a bakery first. The baker, a cheerful man with flour on his apron, listened to their story. “Myreen?” he said thoughtfully. “I don’t know her, but you could try the florist down the street. The owner’s really nice.”

Excited, they hurried over to the flower shop, but when they arrived, a sign on the door read: \'Closed for Delivery – Back in an Hour\'

“We’ll wait,” Althea said, sitting on a bench nearby.

Minutes turned into an hour, and still no one appeared. Growing restless, Ramon said, “Maybe she’s not coming back today.”

“No,” Althea insisted. “I have a feeling she’s still here.”

Just then, a young boy walked by carrying a bouquet of flowers.

“Excuse me!” Althea called. “Do you know the florist?”

The boy smiled. “That’s Miss Myreen. She’s at the park setting up flowers for a wedding.”

Althea and Ramon hurried to the park and found Myreen carefully arranging flowers around a gazebo. The moment Althea saw her, she knew it was the same woman from the locket.

“Myreen?” Althea called.

Myreen looked up, surprised. “Yes?”

Althea stepped forward and held out the locket. “Your father gave me this,” she explained. “He misses you very much.”

Myreen froze. Her eyes widened as she reached out for the locket. She opened it slowly and stared at the picture inside. “I haven’t seen this in years,” she whispered. “I thought I lost it.”

“Myreen,” Althea said gently, “your father really regrets what happened. He’s lonely... and he misses you.”

Myreen’s expression softened. “I was so angry when I left,” she said quietly. “I just wanted to follow my dream... but now... I miss him too.”

“Maybe it’s time to visit him,” Althea encouraged.

Myreen nodded slowly. “You’re right,” she said. “I should see him.”

The next day, Myreen closed her shop early and traveled back with Althea and Ramon. When they reached her father’s house, Myreen stood frozen at the front gate.

“What if he’s still upset?” she whispered.

“He’s not,” Althea assured her. “He’s been waiting for you.”

Taking a deep breath, Myreen knocked on the door.

Moments later, her father opened it. His eyes widened in disbelief. “Myreen?” he whispered.

“Hi, Dad,” she said softly.

The old man’s face crumpled, and he pulled her into a tight embrace. “I’m so sorry,” he choked out.

“I’m sorry too,” Myreen replied, tears streaming down her face.

They spent the rest of the day talking, laughing, and sharing stories. The old man smiled as Myreen spoke about her flower shop. “I should’ve supported you,” he said regretfully.

“You were just trying to protect me,” Myreen said. “I understand now.” ---

A few weeks later, Myreen’s father visited her flower shop. He watched proudly as she arranged bouquets for her customers.

“This place is beautiful,” he told her.

“It’s my dream,” Myreen said, smiling.

“I’m glad you followed your heart,” her father replied. “And I’m glad you came back.”

When her father passed away peacefully a few years later, Myreen planted a special garden beside her shop — filled with her father’s favorite flowers. At the center, she placed a small stone plaque that read:

“For My Father — Who Taught Me Love is Stronger Than Pride.”

And as for Althea, she often thought about that golden locket. She knew that even the smallest act of kindness — like picking something out of the dirt — could change a life forever.

From that day forward, Althea believed that sometimes, a tiny piece of gold could bring back something far more precious — a family’s love.