Golden Glint

“There is something you have to know.”

The firm urgency in my voice makes him turn, piquing his curiosity. He looks at me with an intensity that melts me. His right brow raised and head tilted to one side, waiting for what I will say next.

I freeze in place. My hands are winter cold but a sweat fell from my temple. Cold. Hot. Cool. Warm. It is a whirlwind of emotions. They churn inside me, making havoc in my brain. The words are knotted inside me. But I untie them and make them out of me. This is the only time to tell him.

“I want to tell you how I feel about you…”

I wake up from my reverie and I am greeted by the dead silence of the office - save for the soft hum of my computer and the drumbeat of my heart.

The remaining words are at the tip of my tongue, ready to explode if I don’t put my guards high. But the shining golden glint on his ring finger stops me - a stark reminder of who he is now, of where he is now. I swallowed the words yet the love remains.

We met a beat too late. He holds her hands and I could only look, full of regret for the things that could have been for us.

What if we crossed paths earlier than we did? Could the situation be any different for us? Could our hearts have crossed too and sworn a journey to eternity? But that didn’t happen. I only comfort myself in the thought that in a parallel universe, we are celebrating life and love together.

My love is true but it is not right. I must carry the burden of my forbidden feelings. I would let go and never make my love tamper with his happiness.

Yet, I couldn’t help but think about him, mourning for the love I wanted but could never have.

Now, I could only dream and pen all my frustrations - letting go of the pain cooped up inside me, moving out of the anguish that sprouted within me.

“Ana,” a voice calls as if reverberating from the depth of the earth. I know that tone everywhere, even in my sleep. Why is he here in this ungodly hour?

Slowly, I turn my head as if expecting to be greeted by a ghost. Yes, a spirit of the past.

“There is something you need to know.”

I subconsciously look at his hands.

The golden ring is gone.