The Story of the Second Ring
I got married shortly after the summer ended 24 years ago. And, as a matter of course, we made wedding rings as a couple. I had always assumed that my fingers were thick due to the lingering effects of the chilblain-related swelling I had every winter as a child (I had just convinced myself of that), so I wore a size 15 (my wife wore an 11). Naturally, I wore it on the ring finger of my left hand every day, living my life with a sense of pride. However, a few years after we were married, I lost about 20 kilograms, and to my surprise, my left ring finger slimmed down along with the rest of me (so it wasn't just chilblain swelling after all?), leaving the ring in a state where it would easily slip off. If I kept going like this, I would lose it eventually... This was bad... And so, the ring was hung from the tail of a small green cat figurine I received from a friend, and it has sat quietly on top of the dresser for years, gathering dust without ever being wiped off.
Is this okay? While I would occasionally wonder about that, more than 20 years have already passed. At some point, I had the idea to get the rings resized, and we visited a shop that seemed appropriate, only to find out that it was impossible due to the design. We were in a bind... Well, no, we hadn't really been in a bind since we had left them untouched for over 20 years, but one day, I suddenly thought of a 'second ring.' I don't know if this term actually exists in the world, but my wife and I decided to make second rings.
We decided to engrave words on the inside of the rings (I am now a size 13, and my wife remains an 11) to brighten our future. Those words are 'Something Good'—a magical rule for incorporating something positive to become happy. We chose a design where the sparkle stands out subtly depending on how the light hits the cuts. Thinking about retirement, much like thinking about a pension, makes me feel hopelessly depressed... But what if I start taking action now? What if I start studying what is necessary now and step onto the stage required for the future? I don't know how much it will shine, but I feel like I might be able to enjoy a slightly brighter future. It's also important not to gain weight from here on out, though. How about a second ring for the second stage of life? by Masaaki