Chapter 11 - THE DAY I PUT MY RING BACK ON
It happened on an ordinary Sunday.
No grand gesture.
No expensive vacation.
No dramatic speech.
Ethan came to my apartment to help me assemble a bookshelf.
He arrived with tools and takeout.
We spent two hours arguing about instructions.
At one point, he held up a screw.
“Why are there three left?”
I stared at the shelf.
“Because we're talented.”
He laughed.
I laughed.
Then we sat on the floor eating noodles from cardboard containers.
He looked around.
“You've made this place beautiful.”
I smiled.
“Thank you.”
He nodded.
“I'm glad you had it.”
I stared at him.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
He looked down.
“I hated being apart from you. But I think you needed somewhere you could exist without worrying about my reactions.”
My throat tightened.
I reached into the small drawer beside the couch.
Inside was my wedding ring.
I had kept it there since moving into the apartment.
I held it in my palm.
Ethan went still.
“Claire?”
I looked at him.
“I want to try again.”
His eyes filled.
“But slowly.”
He nodded immediately.
“However slowly you need.”
I held out the ring.
“Would you?”
His hands trembled.
He took it.
Then gently slid it onto my finger.
I began crying.
He kissed my hand.
“Thank you.”
I shook my head.
“Don't thank me yet.”
He smiled through tears.
“Fair.”
Then he asked:
“Can I kiss you?”
I laughed.
“Yes, Ethan.”
He kissed me.
May you like
And for the first time in months, I didn't feel like I was returning to the person I'd been.
I felt like I was choosing a new version of us.
