Dad used to joke that he lost his wedding ring right after the wedding and never bothered to replace it. It became a family joke—how he could keep track of every tool in the garage but somehow “misplaced” the most important piece of jewelry he ever owned. For decades, no one thought much about it.
When Dad passed away, Mom and I began sorting through his things. Among old letters, photographs, and little keepsakes, I found a dusty velvet box tucked in the back of his desk drawer. Inside was Dad’s wedding ring, shiny and perfectly intact. Beneath it was a folded, yellowed note written in Dad’s own handwriting.
The note revealed the truth: Dad never wore the ring because he was afraid he’d lose it. He wanted to keep it safe to pass on to their child someday. To him, the ring wasn’t just jewelry—it was a promise made to Mom. He wrote that if I was reading the note, the ring was now mine to wear when I found someone I loved as much as he loved her.
Mom quietly cried beside me as we read the note. I realized then how much Dad truly treasured the ring, even if it wasn’t worn. Now, the promise he made lives on through me. I keep the ring on my nightstand, holding onto the love and memories it represents, patiently waiting for the day I can honor his wish.