There's Always Tomorrow: "The Wedding Ring"

　

Today was going to be a day of purging. Cleaning out closets and cupboards. Letting go of old hurts and needless things. A day that was long over due. She’d had three cups of her favorite coffee and was on a great roll. Just when she was satisfied with the pile of relics that would be donated to Good Will she decided to keep the momentum going and do some dusting. With a fresh towel and a can of Lemon Pledge she started in her bedroom. Her headboard, and entertainment center were spotless. She took great care in making sure to spray and wipe every inch of the old oak furniture. When she went to do the same to her dresser all progress stopped. For some reason she’ll never know, she opened up her jewelry box and picked up her wedding ring.

She stood there just looking at it. She tried to slip it on, but the extra weight she’d put on since the separation had made it impossible for her to get it passed her knuckle. She remembered the night they upgraded the Diamond in the engagement ring half of the set.

They were at The Mall shopping for odds and ends and when ever they did this they always stopped by their jewelry store, dropped off her ring to be cleaned and picked it up on their way out. On several occasions they would take a moment to “just look“ at bigger diamonds. It was always just for fun. She never really thought she needed one. But on this night, when the sales girl slipped the one karat pear shaped diamond on her finger, she fell in love with it. She looked at Richard and told him so.

“Maybe next time.” he said. “I just don’t think we can afford it right now.”

So they dropped off her ring to be cleaned anyway and went about their shopping tasks. When everything on the list was crossed off they went back to pick up her rings. When the girl handed her the ring it wasn’t hers. The wedding band was, but it wasn’t her quarter karat diamond that she’d worn for the passed eight years. It was the one Karat Pear shaped diamond that she fell in love with several hours earlier. She struggled for a moment. She looked from her husband to the jeweler with pleading eyes.

This is not my ring, She thought. I love this ring, but it’s not mine. What do I do? Should I say something? Should I grab Richards arm and run out of here and deal with it later? Then her conscious got the best of her and she whispered to her husband,

“This is not my ring.”

“Yes it is.” He replied.

“Babe no it’s not. Look!”

“Honey, it’s your ring.” he said with a look on his face that she knew well. He was proud.

She looked at the sales girl who was smiling and nodding her head.

“You did this? How did you do it?”

“Are you happy?” He asked.

“Yes. Very. I love it. I loved my other one too, you didn’t have to do this.”

“Shhh.. It’s already done. Lets go home.”

“I love you so much.” She said as she hugged him and kissed his neck.

“I love you too, more than you’ll ever know.”

She stood there in her lemon scented bedroom sobbing. It was the most romantic thing that he had ever done for her. It was one of the best moments of their marriage. Of her life. She’d never felt more loved. She belonged to him and she loved every bit of it. That was all gone now. Someone else belonged to him and she belonged to no one. She was totally alone.

What should she do with the ring now? Should she sell it? Save it for a rainy day? Give it back to Richard? Today was designated to be a day of getting rid of old hurts. When she really thought about it, her ring wasn’t a hurt. It was a beautiful memory, or maybe it was both at the same time. She decided that she didn’t have to decide right now. She put it back in her jewelry box, closed the lid and told herself to keep on dusting. As for what to do with her ring, well she’d Google the etiquette on that tomorrow.