I look in astonishment at the beauty of the green gemstone, sparkling intricately set in the gold ring. It resembles her eyes so much! Her eyes, which, wet with tears, had seen the fire burn Smyrna. Her homeland. Her entire life.

But it also resembles my own eyes so much! That in the course of my own life, they too will be wet with tears so many times and will see love, families, homes, ideals, values being built and torn down...