Operation Centuria: The First 25

Day 14: SATURN "Nine Rings of Saturn" by Pauline

“I’m coming dear. Just give me a minute.”

She stares at the wooden box. Her wrinkly hands couldn’t seem to release it. She can’t let go. If she had it her way, she wouldn’t.

But she promised him. And he loved her most for keeping her promises.

“Grandma, we’re leaving in a while. We’ll be at the car, waiting.” A little boy in a while polo shirt calls out.

She looks at the boy’s direction and smiles. The little boy looks so muchlike Benjamin. It gladdens and pains her heart at the same time.

Then she turns away focuses on the man in front of her.

“Your grandson is growing up to be a lot like you. You’ll be very proud.” She whispers angelic figure in front of her.

“Well, I owe you and our daughter Angelica my thanks.” Even with his saggy face, he still makes her fall in love like a teenage girl. Not that it’s a good thing.

She doesn’t speak for a while. How could he talk to her like this? Like everything is normal… especially when he left her for twenty years?

“Why did you go?” she suddenly blurts out. “We were happy, weren’t we?”

“Yes, we were.” He doesn’t answer the first question.

“And still, you left.” She can’t stop the words from coming out of her mouth.

“There are something’s that we can’t control, Emy.” He stares at her with those dazzling green eyes that make her knees grow weak.

“I know.” She sighs. “But that doesn’t change the fact that it still hurts.”

A lot of things had changed since Benjamin disappeared from her life. She was no longer the carefree girl he met by the Rossenbury hill. She was no longer the fresh and graceful young lady that he stood by the altar. She grew old. She grew weak and fragile.

Only one thing stayed the same— the dreadful slicing sensation that she felt every morning that she woke up without him.

“Emy,” he calls out but she doesn’t want to meet his gaze.

“Emy, please. Please look at me.” His voice tickles her insides and wakes the little girl inside her.

“Emy…” She knows what he’ll say next.

“Emy, you have to let me go.” Finally, she looks him in the eyes. All she sees is love and honesty.

Their time has passed. She has to accept that.

“Here.” She hands the box to him. “I promised you.”

He grabs the box and lays it down on the ground. “Open it for me. One last time.”

Tears stream down her cheek as she removes the lid. And she sees them – all nine of them. His collection. Her collection. Their collection.

“Nine rings of love.” He says.

“Nine rings of memories, happiness and pain. These remind me of the time we were together… but they also remind me of the time you went away.” She whispers, not being able to say the words too loud.

“That’s why we have to move on.” His words end their conversation for she can’t speak any more.

She closes her eyes, clutching her chest as if her heart is to explode.

When she opens them again, he’s gone and so is the box.

“Grandma, are you all set?” her grandson, Harry approaches her.

“Let’s go.” She says firmly.

One. The string he tied when they were mere preschoolers.

Two. The plastic ring he bought at the school fair.

Three. The candy ring that he found at the mall.

Four. Their white promise ring.

Five. Their engagement ring.

Six. Their wedding ring.

Seven. The gold ring for their first anniversary as a couple.

Eight. Their silver wedding anniversary ring.

Nine. The ring made out of flowers he picked during their trip to a nearby flower field.

“You are my Saturn. No matter how far you might be, I will always be beside you. These rings will be my arms that embrace you. They will remind you of me… of us.”

As she left the cemetery, she felt alive again.