The Lost-and-Found Ring

I finished moving all my stuff to the new apartment, lied down on the sofa and took a deep breath. Finally done! But this relaxation has not lasted long. I found a white round mark on my forefinger.
I screamed.
WHERE is my ring???

I suddenly went white-knuckled. I started to search in panic although I knew the chance was very slim. I saw it there yesterday, but had no idea when and how I lost it today. I had never taken it off since day one. Six, no, Eight years! Can you believe it has been with me 8 years? How many 8 years do I have?

After 1 hour I was totally in despair. The only thing on my mind was to call my mom even I knew it is useless for the result. I just needed to call her. Now.

“Mom~~~” I mourned.
She asked me what went wrong.
“I-Lost-My-Ring~~~” I said with a dragged and sobbing voice.
“Then just go and look for it. If cannot find it, then just forget it. Buy a new one, you can afford it.”
Of course, I knew that as well. But I just felt wronged and burst into tears. Oh me stupid, I am not 5 yrs old anymore.
“But it is not the one! I have been wearing it for 8 years! 8 years! No~~” I started rolling on my bed like being on stroke. It felt like something or someone who has been always with you yet it is gone. Gone.
Mom giggled.
“LOL, how old do you think you are? Ridiculous! Well, it is jewelry and it is likely to be missing. Even it has been with you more decades it can still be. ”

I was still sobbing knowing that no pouring water could be held back.

It was some moment’s silence over the phone and I heard my mom said:

“8 years is not a long time. You know sometimes I feel like losing you that you are working afar. I have been with you 20 years. I cannot imagine one day you behave like a typical “international lady” and I will lose you. Sometimes I worry and cry. It is me who should cry.”

And in the blink of an eye I felt a strong strike punched into my ear drums and rushed directly into my throat. It shut down all my lachrymal glands.

We were just being silent over the phone for 5 seconds till I heard her chuckled.

“Ok, hang up the phone, go and look for it again.”
“Hmm.” I said.
“If you cannot find it, go to sleep in your new apartment.”
“Hmm.” I hang the phone.

I sat up on my bed for a while and with my eye balls still. I just couldn’t believe what Mom said just now. I cannot say it was really irrelevant, but that metaphor sounds painful, how long has she held that feeling for?

What I couldn’t believe either, was I saw a piece of shinning metal lying quietly at the corner of the window bay. I picked it up and wore it back to my finer. It does not matter why and how it went there, it does matter I found it after such a twist, and finally I went to my new apartment with a sound sleep.

Mom gave it to me eight years ago when I stayed home the last year, then I left home for university, and for work till now. It has been with me.

I used to doubt the magic of that little ring thingy, and I am totally convinced. Unconsciously, the ring has you. It is a symbol of promise, to promise you lock yourself with someone important in life and be with him/her. I have been with it, am still with it, since the day I was away and made her feel lost, for 8 years, and longer.