When We Were 19, My Best Friend and I Promised That If We Were Both Single at 60, We’d Find Each Other – I Turned 60 Last Tuesday, & My Old Landline Rang

“My father sent this?”

“Before I left for college. He knew about the ring. I showed it to him, because I asked for his blessing.”

I sat down.

“What did he say?” I asked, although I had an idea.

“That we were too young. That you’d give up anything if I asked because you were loyal to me.”

I looked at the letters in the box.

“So you eventually started a new life?”

“I tried to hold on, but eventually I thought I was helping you.”

“I know.”

His voice was quiet.

I felt angry, but mostly I felt tired.

Jeffrey looked toward the window.

“When your letters slowed down, I thought your father had been right. I thought you were moving on.”

“My letters slowed down because yours did.”

My friend nodded.