She blinked and lowered her lashes momentarily.
“And you’re too stubborn to sign those annulment papers.”
“I want to be married to you, stupid.”
I opened the box, glanced inside, and, smiling, turned it toward her.
She gasped, her hand moving to her mouth.
“No more ring of thorns.” Inside was a beautiful platinum band with a diamond solitaire set in the center.
She threw her arms around me, her tears wet on my face as she hugged me.
“It’s beautiful. It’s so beautiful.”
“I want to do it right,” I said, holding her, drawing her back to wipe her tears away. “Here. We’ll do it here. Just family. We’ll speak our vows properly and make it right.” I took the ring out of the box and looked at her.
She extended her left hand, and I slid the original wedding band off and replaced it with the new one.
This was it. This was my blank slate, my starting over. Our starting over. The black iron ring replaced with bright, shining platinum. From dark to light. Sofia and I together had somehow moved from darkness into light.
“Will you marry me again, sweetheart?” I asked, my vision blurred when I looked up at her.
“I will. I’d marry you again a hundred times.”