Everything of mine was gone. It was as if I had never been there.
A light breeze tugged at the curtains at the window. It swept into the room and knocked a paper star to the ground at Zachary’s
feet.
He picked it up and looked toward the table–the jar of 99 paper stars sat there, a few strips of unfolded stars sitting beneath it.
There was writing on the paper–my handwriting.
Zachary picked up the papers gently.
“I’ve packed up everything I can, so there’s no need to trouble Grace for anything. I’ve asked a lawyer to draft our divorce
agreement. He will contact you in a few days.
“I left the ring in the drawer on the side of your bed.”
Zachary’s hands trembled as he read my words. Weakly, he pulled open the drawer I mentioned. There it was–the ring box, lying
there silently.
1/3
Underneath the box was the old yellowed letter.
“It is heartbreaking that I can’t say goodbye to you in person, but in a way, I’m also relieved—if I had to face you, the only thing I would be able to do is cry.
“When I lost our child, all i received from you was your indifference and disregard. I don’t think I can wait for you any longer, Zachary. I don’t want to.
“I will let you go, and you must let me go, too.
“Goodbye, Zachary. Farewell.”
Trembling, he picked up the box. Inside was the ring. Engraved on its inner band were my initials and the date of our first–ever date.
He’d carved those letters and numbers himself. He had made this ring just for me.
“I will make you a one–of–a–kind ring, a ring that belongs only to you,” he had promised me then. “I will always be by your side. I will always love you.”
The memory of my happiness was carved just as deeply into his heart.
“I believe you, Zachary,” I had told him. “I will always be by your side, and I will always love you, too, just like the stars love the moon.”
Zachary tightened his grip on the paper star.
What had he done?
There was another paper star behind the ring.
Carefully, he unraveled it. I had written something on the inside, too. “Don’t look for me, Zachary.”
He knew, at that moment, that he had lost me forever.
He hugged the entire jar of paper stars tightly.
“I promise that I’ll come back to you once I help Sienna fulfill 99 wishes.”
“Promise?”
“Don’t worry. I never break a promise.”
“Alright. I’ll make a paper star every time one of her wishes comes true. That way, you won’t be able to go back on your word.”
But in the end, he still did.
Chapter 6
