"Please don't leave me. I am nothing without you." Vince propped up on his bed, panting with heavy breathing as he recalled the last image he saw in his head of a lady in red walking away from him.

Scooching over to the edge of his bed, he stood up and looked up at his clock, and it is only 3:00 am. He knew he would not be able to go back to sleep immediately. Opened the headboard and drew out the 20-year old whiskey he has been saving up for ages. When he moved to Quebec, he had a collection of age-old whiskey, around 20 of them. But, now it's down to ten. It wouldn't take long before his entire collection is gone.

Taking the whiskey and shot glass, he sat next to his bed and placed the liquor on his bedside table. The alcohol stood next to the one and only picture of him and his fiancee. He picked it up as he downed one shot of whiskey, pointing his finger at the picture, "This is your fault. You should have not left me here. You should have taken me with you instead." Tears started to fall from his eyes, his chest constricted his breathe as he fights his way to breathe, his shoulders shook as he let his longingness ebbed in.

Vince put the shot glass down with shaking hands. Pulling the drawer open next to him, revealing a red velvet box. Carefully, he held it in his hand, popped it open, and in it were two gold bands. One band was bedazzled with multi-colored Swarovski crystals and the other one with just 3 diamonds, both with the engravings VV 12-14-19.

"It's beautiful," Vicky said as she stretched out her hand, marveling at the exquisite ring on her finger. "I love this Vince, let's take this." Her eyes sparkled like the crystals on the ring. And, for Vince, those were the eyes that give him so much inspiration and love. Strong enough to get him through anything. The eyes that had him feel warm, comfortable, and loved. Now, she's gone. Her eyes with a complete stranger who would not even meet his eyes.

All he has left were those two gold bands.

He sat there, staring at the wedding rings. His hands started shaking and water-filled his eyes as he gulped another whiskey to warm his throat. These days, it's beer and whiskey that had only kept him warm, everything was cold. It offered a brief solace to unfreeze his spirit and heart that had frozen when Vicky left.

Now, these rings don't have any bearing. But, Vince doesn't have the audacity to remove their engagement ring on his fingers. Its mere presence is a constant reminder of the love they have shared. The physical contact on his skin gave him the will to wake up each morning. It is no longer a symbol but a part of himself. Without it, something will be missing, it's like taking out one arm or leg from his body. And, the wedding rings, although he knew he would not be able to wear them again, where all that's left. Deep inside his heart, no one can take them away from the warmth and feeling attached to the ring. Letting go of the ring meant he was ready to move forward. But he can't for those are the only emotions he can cling on to. Even if it triggered his anxiety and longingness, it's the same set of rings that reminded him that at least once in his life, he was loved, and he loved it. No one would be able to surmount or come close to the kind of relationship that he and Vicky shared. No one would be able to fill the void that she had left in his heart.

The wind whooshed outside of the house, ramming the windows and whistling through the eerie night. The leaves rustle, and the trees sway in harmony, sending shivers to the bones. Tiny hairs at his nape and arms stood up when the chilly autumn wind creep inside his house. The old air enveloped him in his sadness, crouching in complete surrender wishing that the wind took him. Then, the heat of a warm palm that was seemingly pushing him from his spine made him bend backward, stretching his back as if a reassuring hand was lying behind him. It felt warm and cold at the same time.

"Vicky, Vicky ---"

"Vince, wake up. Wake up. We are here," Tony was shaking his shoulders, and a look of concern washed over him as he looked at his friend. He was not the same Vince that he and Ashley knew for the last few years. He has changed -- his ruffled clothes, long messy hair, unshaven face and eyes that have lost all hope in life.

"Oh! Where are we?" his slurry words were hard to make up. Vince forced himself to sit down, open the door and stand up but only stumbled on the ground after two steps.

"C'mon man! You are way better than this," Tony propped Vince up to his feet, who was fumbling his keychain looking for the door key. Tony reached out and took it from him. At least he had everything color-coded which made it easier for him to look for the key. It was a practice that Vicky was known for and had influenced the three of them to follow suit. He was at least proud of Vince that he had managed to pick some good habits from their friends.

"Thank you, man" Vince dragged his feet as he entered his house and Tony hoisting him to the nearby sofa.

He pulled a chair next to Vince and looked him in the eye tapping his knees, "Do me a favor will 'ya? And be sober for just a week?" But, Vince just tilted his head on the sofa and made an inaudible sound from his mouth.

"Call me when you are feeling better. I need to get off now, alright?"

"Sorry, man. Thank you for picking me up." Tony did not reply and instead patted his friend's shoulder.

When Tony stepped out, Vince coughed violently that he had to slap his chest hard. His hands touched his necklace, where he made his wedding ring as a pendant. He clutched on to it as he slept on the couch. "Vicky, Vicky --" he whispered. The wind chimes on the door rang as the breeze passed by the tiny house on top of the hill. The breeze carried a whisper, "I am here… I am here..."