by Adrienne H. Lee

Don’t forget your ring.

A shadow of a thought, bouncing around my noggin. Been in and out of my mind for days, maybe weeks. Time slips and I can’t quite remember things as well as I used to.

Don’t forget your ring.

Wish I could tell you why. In all my years, I never was one for jewelry. Felt too fancy for someone like me. Plain Jane. That’s what everyone called me. Guess I believed it, too. Was never married, neither. Definitely something I’d remember.

Don’t forget your ring.

Thing is, it feels like I should be wearing something on that finger. Jack said the vein in the ring finger on the left hand leads directly to the heart. Had a fancy name… what did he call it? Can’t remember that, neither, I guess. Jack and his fancy words. Even his words were too fancy for me. Plain Jane.

Don’t forget your ring.

Didn’t have much to offer, but I accepted anyway and that’s how we became Jack-and-Jane. Everyone called us that, like our names were one word. Made a promise to never forget and we never did. Lived like that for years and years. Two people, one word.

Don’t forget your ring.

You see, you spend so much time with someone, like Jack and I did, they end up sticking with you long after they’re gone. Jack may not be here anymore, rest his soul, but sometimes I think I still hear him, reminding me of our promise. A shadow of a thought, bouncing around my noggin.

Don’t forget your ring.

Litro Magazine