I twirled the ring through my fingertips as I relived old memories in my head. He gave this ring to me for my birthday, back when our relationship was full of love and devotion. Who would’ve known that just a few months later it would all be over, he was off with someone else and I was left with this damned ring and a broken heart.
It was too pretty to just throw away but it was a painful reminder. I hated him for what he had done to me but I missed what we had. I was so conflicted. I squeezed the ring in my hand, feeling the cold metal against my skin.
We met in a bar when I was out with my friends after work one day. He was so handsome and we kept making eye contact. I accidentally tripped as I walked past him on my way to the bathroom and he managed to catch me. I still remember the tingling sensation on my skin as we touched for the first time. I was so embarrassed but when I gazed into his loving eyes he made me feel at ease. We separated from our friend groups and found a quiet corner of the bar, we chatted for ages about everything and shared our first kiss.
A week later we went on our first date, he bought me some red roses and we had a meal at a Chinese restaurant. I remember laughing with him struggling to use chopsticks then giving up and opting for a fork instead. He told the worst jokes but I didn’t care, I was hooked on his every word.
Six months later he dropped the L bomb. I hadn’t felt this way about anyone before, I was deeply in love with him so knowing he felt the same was the best feeling in the world. For my birthday he bought me a silver ring with a blue gem in the center and two diamonds either side, “the next time I give you a ring I’ll be down on one knee” he said as he put the ring on my middle finger.
We were together for four amazing years. We created so many happy memories that I will cherish forever. We often talked about our future; buying a house, getting married, having kids and even what type of dog we would have. He was the most important person in my life. We had our ups and downs like every couple but our love for each other was so strong that we could overcome any obstacle. Or at least I thought we could.
A few months ago he started work at a new company and made lots of new friends. I was happy for him because his previous job made him miserable. It was nice to see him smiling again. But he started going out with his colleagues nearly every night during the week, staying out longer and longer and often came home drunk. We started arguing more but he was always so apologetic the next morning when he was sober.
One night he didn’t come home at all, I was so worried and stayed up the whole night waiting for him. I left so many voicemails and texts on his phone but he didn’t reply to any of them. Eventually I fell asleep on the couch but the second I heard his key in the door at 6:30am I jumped up. I demanded to know where the hell he had been and he gave me the usual excuses of his phone dying, he stayed at a friend’s, blah blah blah. But I was just so relieved that he was OK and had come home to me that I actually believed him. I threw my arms around him and hugged him tightly. As I kissed his neck my stomach lurched, he stank of alcohol…and women’s perfume.
After a very heated argument I found out that he had spent the night with one of his female colleagues, one he had mentioned in previous conversations quite a few times. I asked him if this was the first time and he didn’t answer, he just stared at me looking guilty. I was so angry and hurt that I kicked him out of our flat. He insisted that it was “just a drunken mistake” but cheating was something I could never forgive. He was a different person to me now and I wasn’t going to let him make a fool of me. The best four years of my life were gone in an instant.
We split up and two weeks later my friend broke the news to me that he was already with someone else, his “drunken mistake”. In a fit of rage I threw out everything he’d ever bought me, even the rose I’d pressed from the bouquet he gave me on our first date.
Then I came across the ring, I don’t know why but I couldn’t bring myself to throw it away. It was like a magnet stuck to my hand.
I sat there squeezing the ring letting my fury and bitterness sweep over me. I couldn’t keep this thing, not if it made me feel like this. I thought about giving it back to him but seeing him again would be too painful, especially if she answered the door instead.
I drove to the local jewellers and asked for it to be valued. I was shocked when they told me how much it was worth! It was real silver with real diamonds and a real sapphire. As much as I’d grown attached to this ring it was time to say goodbye and let go of the memories it held.
I used the money to buy myself a delicate silver bracelet, I wear it everyday and each time I look at it I smile thinking of what I have overcome and look forward to my future.
