July 15. Finger

As she waits at the traffic lights, her wedding ring shines in the sun and catches her eye. Precious metal bound around her finger, similar to that in her ears and around her neck in appearance but completely different in life. Her earrings never caused her heart to soar or to sink. Her necklace never felt like a warm hug or a line she couldn't cross. In a time when a year felt significant and opportunities were frequent, her finger felt bare, her heart was open and the promise was so easy to give. Many years later, time had shown her how hard it was to keep.