Lyna stared blankly at the beautiful ring lying on the table before her. It was the counterpart to the one wrapped around her own ring finger. Only when the two rings were joined on a single finger did their true form reveal itself. Her husband had crafted these rings with his own hands, and Lyna still remembered how proud he was when he showed them to her.
A faint smile touched Lyna’s lips, but tears once again flowed from eyes that should have already run dry. With trembling hands, she reached for the ring. Every touch deepened the ache in her heart. Regret, anger, sorrow, and despair churned within her, blending into a piercing bitterness. Unconsciously, she bit her lip too hard, drawing a small bead of blood.
Slowly, Lyna slid the ring onto her finger, next to her own. When the two rings met, there was a soft click, and they fused together, revealing their true form.
Now the ring looked like a living masterpiece—a perfect blend of soft gold and gleaming silver, intertwining like branches rooted deeply yet growing toward the light. At the center of this intricate design was an eight-pointed sapphire star, radiating a gentle glow like a tiny star shining in the dark of night. The gem was encircled by delicate engravings of tiny flames, reminding Lyna of her husband’s warm smile that had once melted her frozen heart.
She vividly remembered the moment her husband proposed to her with this ring. The fire blazing in his eyes at that time reflected a love so vast and pure. She had been astonished to see such a beautiful ring, especially knowing he was just a fresh graduate without much money. How had he managed to afford it? But Lyna had never asked. To her, questioning it felt like doubting her husband’s capabilities—something she would never do, especially given the disparity in their social statuses.
Oddly, Lyna had never worried about his ability to provide for their small family. There was an inexplicable certainty in her heart that he would weather storms and endure hardships to give her the best life he could. That sense of comfort and trust had been the foundation of their love.
Lyna had once envisioned their future together—growing old, surrounded by children and grandchildren who would visit them, even though she knew they would prefer enjoying each other’s company. She could still recall her husband, with a serious expression, saying, “When the kids turn 30, we’re kicking them out. I want to enjoy a second honeymoon with you. Those troublesome kids can fend for themselves for a while.”
Lyna had laughed back then, imagining her husband truly doing something so ridiculous just to spend more time with her.
But now…
Reality crashed over Lyna like a cold wave, relentless and unforgiving. Her husband was no longer by her side, leaving behind only promises, memories, and a love she could never forget. The home once filled with his laughter and silly antics now felt hollow and colder with every passing day. She gazed at the ring on her finger, tears flowing once more even though they should have dried long ago.
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She wanted to scream, to unleash all the anguish eating away at her, but her voice was gone after endless sobbing through the night. Now, all that remained was her frail body, like a dying tree slowly withering away.
“What am I supposed to do with this life?” she whispered softly, her eyes fixed on the ring around her finger.
“Should I follow you there? Maybe that’s the best choice since this world feels too empty without you…”
“Or should I go on living without you? Hmm… maybe that’s what you would want, even though it’s cruel of you to leave me…”
“You’re so selfish, you know that?”
“Hey…”
“Hey…”
Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks as her trembling voice continued,
“Didn’t you once say that I was the most important thing in your life? The greatest blessing you’d ever received? Your beautiful thing? Then why… why did you leave me?”
Silence enveloped the room, but her thoughts churned relentlessly.
“Oh, I remember. You once said that death was freedom. ‘Death is the end of all sin,’ isn’t that what you said back then?”
“IF THAT’S TRUE, THEN WHY DO I WANT TO CURSE YOU NOW?! DON’T YOU REALIZE HOW MUCH YOU’VE WRONGED ME?! HOW DARE YOU LEAVE ME ALONE IN THIS DAMNED WORLD!!!”
Lyna gasped for air, her chest rising and falling as uncontainable anger and sorrow surged through her.
“Hey…”
“Hey…”
“My love, tell me what I’m supposed to do.”
Before she realized it, her body had curled up on their bed, trembling in solitude. She clutched a photo of her husband tightly, holding it as though she could still feel the warmth of the man she loved. But the embrace was empty—cold and lifeless.
She had no idea how long she lay in that position. Her body felt stiff, her muscles protesting every small movement. Then, the sound of the bedroom door opening shattered her trance. Footsteps approached, but she didn’t care. The world around her had lost all meaning.
A document was tossed in front of her, jolting her out of her stupor. Her vacant gaze shifted to the bold words on its cover: CLASSIFIED. Her husband’s photograph was prominently displayed on the document’s first page. Her weak hand moved with difficulty, reaching for the document. Something deep inside her whispered that she would regret not reading it.
With a body nearly devoid of strength, Lyna began to read the document slowly. Inside were complete details about her husband and the team that had gone with him on a mission. Her brow furrowed as she read the mission description.
The mission was classified as high-risk, with an almost zero chance of success. Yet, the document stated that the mission had been accomplished—with only one casualty. That casualty was her husband.
Lyna froze for a moment. It didn’t take long for her to realize what had truly happened. Her husband had sacrificed his life to save his team—or perhaps, his team had used his life as a pawn to ensure their own survival.
Her heart churned with turmoil. The document was undeniable evidence that could uncover the truth behind her husband’s death. But what would she do with that truth? That question echoed in her mind, accompanied by the anger and grief surging once more to the surface.