I open the box to reveal the antique platinum diamond engagement ring my grandfather gave my grandmother, which is now mine to give to Luciana.

Luciana…

I know I didn’t leave her in the best manner, but I honestly didn’t know how to explain why I was returning to my homeland. I only hope that she will understand once I explain everything to her.

And now that I have the ring, I can complete the next task, the most difficult one that I only hope has the outcome I’m wishing for.

I step out of our house, giving a wave to my father who’s out back tending to his bees. The sun beams down on me as I turn left out of our driveway to walk the two miles to my destination. Along the way, neighbors shout hello to me, some stop me to ask how I am and where I’ve been. They also inform me about Petra and what she’s up to now, and at least now I know what to expect when I see her.

I reach the center of town and stop in front of the shop window, the same sign advertising its wares as it has for the past twenty-odd years—“Potraviny,” “groceries,” the store where I met Petra Benesova when I was a young boy and where I asked for her hand in marriage from her father when I was eighteen.

I take a deep breath and walk in. The same bell jingles when I push the door open.

Her father, Mr. Benes, is the first person I see.

“Dobry den.” I acknowledge him nervously with the customary morning greeting.

His eyes widen at the sight of me. His back straightens and his chest enlarges as he takes a deep breath to give the appearance of strength, going into protective mode for his daughter. “Hello, Tomas,” he replies in Czech. “I heard you were back in town. How are you?”

“I’m well. And Mrs. Benesova? You’re both fine, I hope?”

“We are, thank you.”

I swallow in my throat. “I was hoping I could speak to Petra. Do you know—”

Just as I’m about to ask where she is, a blonde head pops out of the curtain that separates the back room from the front. “I couldn’t find the—”

Time stands still as I look into the green eyes of my childhood sweetheart, the girl I thought I’d be with forever until the unspeakable happened.

I stand ramrod straight, trying to keep my breathing even.

You can do this. “Hello, Petra.”

“Tomas,” she whispers. “What are you doing here?”

“I was hoping we could talk.”

“It’s been a long time,” she replies, a bit of steel and anger in her voice, which is completely understandable and expected, but I deserve it.

I sigh from embarrassment. “I know. I’m very sorry about that.”

We stare at each other for what seems like forever, taking in the sight of each other. I watch as she flips her thick hair over her shoulder, now longer. She seems taller. Her eyes are softer, wiser, as if she’s already lived an entire lifetime even though we’re both in our late twenties. But I still detect a note of sadness and vulnerability, which is not at all a surprise after what the both of us went through together.

She stands perfectly still as her own eyes take me in. “You look good, Tomas. Different. I hear you’re doing well in New York.”

“Thank you, I am.”

Silence permeates the store. This is so awkward, but I don’t look away from her as tempting as it is to make it easier on me. She deserves better from me after leaving her the way I did.

I swallow deep past the lump in my throat. “Would you take a walk with me?”

Her father places a hand on her arm. “Petra, you don’t have to…”

Her tall frame steps out from behind the curtain, placing her hand on her father’s arm. “It’s okay.”

She grabs her purse from a shelf behind the counter, leading the way to the door.

Outside on the sidewalk, we stop and stare at each other. “Do you want to see Oksana?” she asks.

I exhale a breath. The weight on my shoulders lessens. “Yes. I was hoping you’d say that. I’d like that very much.”

A small smile appears across her lips. “I take good care of her.”

I lift her hand and place it in the crook of my arm. “I know you do. Let’s get something for her.”

We begin to walk slowly along the cobblestone street, not just so we don’t trip, but also because it wouldn’t feel proper to rush. We need to take each other in, the feel of being in each other’s presence again after so many years. She holds on to my arm tightly, and I do the same with her hand so she won’t fall. I am here for her now, something I didn’t do when I should’ve before.

Something sharp bites my palm. I look down at her hand. A large diamond ring sits on the third finger of her left hand.

We begin walking. I rub my thumb over the sparkling jewel. “Congratulations. I heard you were engaged from my neighbors. Who’s the lucky man?”

“Andrej Benedikt. He’s a manager at the Škoda automobile factory. He’s a gentleman and treats me very well. I think you’d like him.”

I breathe a sigh of relief, my heart growing fuller for her. I grip her hand tighter to acknowledge how happy I am for her, because in addition to finding her happiness, it means that I can finally move on with mine without the guilt hanging over me.

I lean in to kiss her hair, and, thankfully, she doesn’t pull away. “I’m sure I would. That’s so nice to hear. I’m very happy for you.”

“Thank you, Tomas. I’m happy, too. Finally. I never thought I would be again.”

I release a long breath. “I know exactly how you feel.”

“Yes, I’m sure you do,” she whispers under her breath.

We turn right to head up the hill toward the church where we got married so many years ago.

“And you?” she asks. “Are you happy?”

I can’t help but smile at the question. “I am. Very. Her name is Luciana. She’s an opera singer too. Hopefully you’ll meet her one day.”

“I would like that very much.” She tugs on my elbow and stops walking. I come to a halt next to her. When I look at her, she takes her hand, placing it on my cheek. “It’s okay to move on, Tomas. If you need to hear it, then here it is…move on. Be happy. Believe me, it took some time until I accepted the fact that it was acceptable to be with Andrej. I felt all of it…the guilt, the worry that if I moved on, it meant I never loved you or Oksana. We’re not saying good-bye to the love, we’re just leaving behind the life we had and starting a new one.”

I shut my eyes from the overwhelming emotion, thankful for her words, my heart full of love and admiration for her, her strength, and her selflessness.

I open my eyes again to look at her, clearing my throat. “I hope you know how sorry I am for everything. I think what happened between us, after everything…what I’m trying to say is, we are where we’re meant to be now in our lives.”

Petra nods in return. “I know. There was just too much pain. I’m not angry, not anymore. There’s no point to carrying around so much hate and resentment where there’s so much life left for both of us. It took me a long time to realize that.”

“I know. I feel the same way.”

I hold her hand tighter as we reach the churchyard, stopping so we both can buy flowers from the vendor at the gate.

I grip her hand tighter as we make our way to the back of the church where the cemetery is. Quietly, we walk to the gravestone that sits in the shadow of a giant oak tree.

I smile at the sight of the flowers that Petra has planted at the foot of the stone. She wipes the dirt from the etched letters, spelling out our daughter’s name, OKSANA VERONIKA NOVOTNA, and the dates of her birth and her death, only seven days apart.

I kneel down on the soft grass as Petra begins to pull the errant weed here and there from between the flowers.

I trace the engraving of my daughter’s name with my fingers as a form of greeting. “Hello, my darling. I’m so sorry I haven’t visited you for so long. I needed to go away, but you never left my mind or my heart, and you never will. I hope one day you can meet a very nice woman named Luciana. She’s very funny and beautiful. Just know that I miss you and I love you. Daddy loves you very much.”