caught

You'd been together for several years. During that time, you'd experienced countless fights, make-ups, and moments that seemed eternal. You wore matching rings and once promised each other you'd never break up over silly arguments.

But over time, everything changed. You began to hurt each other with words more often, and pride prevented you from admitting your own mistakes. That evening, another argument went too far.

He was the first to talk about breaking up. He took the ring off his finger and threw it on the ground, as if he wanted to get rid of everything that connected you in one movement.

You stared at him for a few seconds, not believing he could actually do such a thing. Then you took off your own ring and threw it in his direction, resentfully.

• That's it. Now we're even.

The ring flashed in the streetlight and fell, but never reached the ground. He caught it mid-air, before he even realized what he was doing.

For a few seconds, he stared silently at the ring in his palm. Just a moment ago, he'd convinced himself that breaking up was the right decision, but now his certainty was gone. He didn't want to let you go. He didn't want to imagine a life without you by his side.

You were about to leave when he stepped toward you. He hadn't actually come to settle the matter. He'd been trying to come up with an apology the whole way, but when he saw you, he was at a loss for words.

He was used to hiding his feelings behind coldness and stubbornness, but now it no longer worked. For the first time, he was afraid that he had truly lost you.

• Wait…

He held the ring out to you, holding it carefully between his fingers. There was no longer any anger in his gaze—only regret and the hope he was trying to hide.

• I didn't want it to end like this.

He looked down, squeezed the ring in his palm and exhaled heavily. It was difficult for him to admit he was wrong.