‘It’s Either Me or Your Late Wife!’ My Fiancée Yelled, Demanding That I Take My Old Wedding Ring off — My Story

I never thought I’d be able to move on after losing my wife, Stacy. I’ve now had to do something I fear might betray her memory. It has left me wondering if I’ve done the right thing.

I met my late wife, Stacy, in college many years ago. It might be a cliche, but it was love at first sight. We got married 13 years ago and had a daughter, Chloe. And about seven years back, my worst nightmare came true. I was driving home with Stacy after date night when we were involved in a terrible car accident.

We were both hospitalized after the crash, but Stacy’s injuries left her in critical condition. “I promise I’ll make sure to protect Chloe. I will never be the reason our precious girl cries,” I told her as she lay unconscious on the hospital bed. I like to believe that she heard me somehow, but the following day, Stacy passed away.

At first, raising my daughter alone was difficult, mainly because we were both mourning Stacy. But over time, I learned to play the role of a single father, and Chloe and I became inseparable. I slowly learned to move on and focus on keeping Chloe safe and happy.

“Do you think mommy is in heaven?” Chloe asked me one day. I remembered my promise to my late wife and trusted that Stacy was in a better place, watching over us. “She’s right up there,” I replied, pointing to the clouds.

Despite moving on, I couldn’t imagine that I would ever find love again. I kept my old wedding ring on wherever I went. I focused more attention on my business of fixing up classic cars, and I’ve managed to build a successful company.

Even though my professional life was thriving, and my relationship with Chloe had never been stronger, I still felt empty. It also felt as though I had a Stacy-sized hole in my heart. I craved romantic affection, but there was a tremendous sense of guilt. My business partner, Jack, always encouraged me to get back out there.

“Stacy wouldn’t want to do this all alone,” he said. Even though I knew he was right, I didn’t know how to approach women any more. That all changed when I met Tess. She came to my shop looking for someone to fix her father’s old car.

I couldn’t believe my eyes when she walked inside my garage. Tess had the same big brown eyes as Stacy, which left me mesmerized and almost speechless. I summoned the courage to take my opportunity.

“I’m sorry if this is sudden, but could I take you out on a date?” I asked nervously.

To my surprise, she said yes, and I took her out to coffee. Tess is also a parent and has two daughters from two failed marriages. “You’re probably wondering if there’s something wrong with me,” she joked. But I didn’t judge her.