CHAPTER 35: RING OR MORE

Lily’s Point of View

When I arrived at my parents' house, I was relieved to find Mom wasn’t home. Thank God. I never told her or Dad about Simon’s proposal after he left. The ring had been hidden from them as well. So there was no way I could call her up and ask, ‘Hey Mom, have you seen my engagement ring to Simon?’ I shuddered at the thought as I entered my room, praying she hadn’t stumbled upon it. How would I even begin to explain?

I resumed my search, rifling through the drawers and under piles of old clothes. Finally, I found it. Yes! I sat down on the bed, clutching the small black box like I’d just dug up a treasure. My pulse quickened as I opened it for the first time in three years.

The ring was just as beautiful as the day Simon had slipped it onto my finger. My heart ached with memories of our time together. I hesitated, then slid Thomas’s ring off and placed Simon’s back on. For a fleeting moment, I let myself imagine what could have been if Simon had never left. I probabl