Excerpt: Red and Grey

My story's opening.

Melody fought to control the tears even though she knew the effort was futile. Her fingers brushed the rich red fabric, pushing the pile in one direction then another. The color was so vivid and dramatic. The tears pressed harder on her eyes.
“Your mother and I picked it for you the last time the trade caravan was through. I suggested green, but she insisted on red.”
The tears escaped then, running in slow rivers down her cheeks. She kept moving her hand over the fabric feeling it slide between her fingers and under her nails. It was perfect, exactly what she would have picked for herself.
“She said red was the best color for you, better then green. When she knew she was dying I asked her if she wanted to give it you herself. She told me to hold it, she… she said that you deserved something beautiful on your twentieth birthday. ”
Melody stood slowly letting the folded fabric flow from her hands onto the floor. She lifted the edges and sat the cape on her shoulders. The clasp was silver, there was a tiny red gem set in the middle. Melody lifted the hood over her hair, covering her black bun. Turning slowly she faced her grandmother and brushed tears from her cheeks.
“How does it look Nanna?”
Melody watched as her grandmothers eyes widened, her fingers trembled.
“You’re mother was right child, you look stunning. More beautiful then I could have imagined.”