The Disengagement Ring

After my EX moved out of our house, he told me he was working with his shrink and couldn't make up his mind whether or not he wanted a divorce. I was wrangling with the remodel and holding out some faint hope that I could salvage this mess, but my gut told me it was over. I mean he'd taken most of his clothes - that’s pretty much a dead give-away. He seemed damn happy, too, even giddy. This was the first big break-up of his romantic life. We met when we were 36 years old and I was only his second girlfriend. That should have been my first clue right there. Foolishly, I thought he was waiting for someone like me. So, he hadn't much dating or sexual experience. And right now he was frisky. Remember this is the guy who wanted sex four times a week.

One Sunday afternoon, he came over to pick up our daughter. I was determined to see whether or not he was still wearing his wedding ring. I kept forgetting to look or maybe I was just scared.

He was standing in the dining room, flipping through the Sunday paper when I saw that he had removed it. I became sick to my stomach. I didn't say a word. When he left, I walked into my bedroom and removed my rings. The engagement ring was a diamond solitaire flanked by two sapphire trillions. I chose sapphires because we were married in September and they’re that month’s birthstone. Sapphires also represent honesty. I thought that was a lovely symbol for our marriage.

Originally, when my EX proposed he presented my engagement ring and wedding band to me in Cracker Jack boxes. Not the most original idea and rather childlike, but hey, I was thrilled at the time. The engagement ring was given to me in a taxi on the way to the airport when we were flying out of town to tell my dad we were getting married. His brother handed him another Cracker Jack box during our wedding ceremony when it was time to slip the wedding band on my finger. Our guests got a big kick out of that.