“Coretta James, I want to express to you how much you have made my world shine brighter in a new light. From the first day I met you, I knew you were the spark to my flame. You have made a man feel like he could conquer the world all over again! You make life a joy to live and I owe it all to you. On this day, I want to give you a small token of my love and make this dedication to you, the most beautiful woman.”
He then reached into his pocket and pulled out a small ring box. I believe he could feel the tremble in my body. He reached out for my hand and said,
“I want to give you a piece of my love to take with you. We may leave the place but never apart. You are the queen that reigns in my life, so I give you this promise ring to seal our bond and love as friends. I pray that you accept this token of love because I am thankful and bless just to know you and have you in my life.”
Tears started to flow down my face. I was actually being ‘promised’ to. Never, in a million years, I would have thought, once a perfect stranger, now a compassion friend, would come into my life and flip my heart upside down.
The ceremony was beautiful. He slid the ring on my finger and embraced me with a kiss. I was extremely happy. This was a birthday I will never forget. We hated to leave the island but before leaving, we had promise to meet every year to celebrate our union and new birth as companions and friend.
For the last five years, he and I have met in Bermuda. Except this last year, it was a sad year. My friend, my confidant had passed away. His time had expired. He went to sleep one night and never woke up the next morning. He died of natural causes. He lived a good life and showed me the best life. As a momentum, his son sent Lamar’s sentimental keepsakes to me. In one of the trinkets, Lamar had saved a picture of the two of us on the beach under the beautiful bamboo arch from the first time we met. I didn’t know that he had pictures taken. I accepted the promise ring the solidified our relationship. On the back, the inscription read, “my greatest inspiration”.
I now have that picture embroidered on my jewelry box which sits right next to the promise ring box that Lamar pulled out of his pocket from that special day.
"PROMISES" iN MY