Unexpected Revelations

We met up, Anna and I, buzzing for a girls’ night out and craving Thai food.

The October evening air was just the right mix of cool and crisp.

That night, I had gone a bit overboard, slipping into a red dress that had been waiting patiently in my closet. A freebie I received recently!

“You look stunning, Kell,” Anna’s words eased my uncertainty, her own outfit a graceful, effortless ensemble. We laughed, and dance-walked towards the warmly lit restaurant together.

Inside, the atmosphere was ablaze with chatter and the clinking of dishes. We settled into our cozy corner, menus alive with exotic tastes. The waiter took our order – spring rolls, green curry, and of course, Pad Thai.

Amid the delicious anticipation, I noticed it. A delicate glint on Anna’s hand as she reached for the water.

A wedding ring, unassumingly elegant, clinging to her finger.

I blinked, puzzled. Hadn’t seen it before. I ventured cautiously, “Anna, the ring?”

The bubbly atmosphere dimmed, as her smile faded. Dead quiet.  Then, her chopsticks clattered softly onto the table, her hand clasping mine.

“I…I just felt like wearing it today…” Her eyes, brimming with unshed tears, met mine. The vibrancy of the restaurant receded into a distant hum.

My heart raced with questions. Is Anna married? What’s her situation? I pushed gently, and she spilled the beans. The ring was from a broken marriage. Her husband of five years divorced her, harshly, unexpectedly, for another woman. The story hung in the air, its weight popping the lightness of our evening like a push-pin deflating a helium balloon.

With a breath, I shuffled off my own uncertainties, my discomfort with heavy emotions.

Tonight, Anna needed a friend, not the pragmatic, stoic Kelly.

“It’s okay, Anna. You’re allowed to miss him.” I said, my words a gentle echo of her vulnerability. The evening unfolded with a slower, softer tempo.

We shared stories, some laughter, and silence. As we left the restaurant, the cool air whispered promises of healing and newfound strength.

K.