Jakob, of course, could not hear me. He would never know that all I had once dreamed of was for him to come home from work and share a harmonious dinner with me, like any ordinary couple.

Such a simple thing, and Jakob was never able to give it to me.

Unable to wait any longer, Jakob wandered the living room in a daze.

Suddenly, he froze, his movements slow and stiff as he picked up the ring from the floor.

Jakob’s eyes grew red, and a pained roar escaped his throat.

He clutched the ring, sank to his knees, and wept uncontrollably.

I crouched on the floor, watching him....