“Right, so this is everything I know about this ring,” she began. “My mother gave it to me as her dying wish. I did not get enough time to ask her questions, but she just told me that one day when I grow up, I will meet a boy I will love with everything that I am. She told me that, when I find him, I should give this ring to him, and it will bind us together and we will never separate. She also said there was, however, a catch, and her last breath escaped her when I asked what the catch was.”

“Oh? And you still say it is a normal ring? Why didn’t you ask me first how I would feel about this whole thing?” Sipho asked.

“Well, if I had told you, chances are you would not have agreed to it,” she responded, shrugging her shoulders.

“How do I take if off?” Sipho fired another question.

“You cannot take it off as long as you still love me and you are loyal to me,” she responded.

“Naledi, I need to take it off,” he said. “I have been feeling and doing weird stuff since I had this ring.”

“But I just told how it can be taken off,” she responded, and her mood was fast swinging, and she looked a bit off.

“I hope you realise you are doing this. Are you sure there is no other way?” he asked.

“I do not know, but at least it doesn’t drive you crazy,” she responded. “You know how to control yourself. I could not. If I take the ring back, I might not make it the next time I get under a speeding vehicle.”

Sipho felt confused by her statement. “Wait, what are you talking about now?” he asked.

“I have been to hell and back because of that finger ring,” she responded. “I have been a school weirdo, I misbehaved at home, and I did many things I did not meant to. That day I jumped into your van and you saved my life, I knew I had to come up with a plan. You just happened to be the perfect plan. You did not judge me or see me as a weirdo that everyone thought I was, and everything just fell into place. I know I did not give you a choice, but I want you to know that, for once in my life, I am happy. I am happy here, with you.”

“I am really sorry you had to experience all that, but still, the way I see it, it is like you agree with me about the ring being possessed,” Sipho responded. “Why couldn’t you throw it away if it landed you in so much trouble?”

“It is complicated,” she responded. “You see, my mom was never present in my life. She only came back when she was sick and dying, and this ring has been the only thing I could remember her with.”

“Why do you care so much about the memory of your deceased mother who was not there when you grow up” he asked. “You could not even see that this thing was ruining your life.”

“With all due respect, Sipho, the type of relationship my mother and I had need not be judged by you,” she responded.

“I am sorry, babe,” he said. “But still, you need to think about this, and this ring needs to come off my finger. I would never leave you if that is what you are scared of, I promise.”

“You know what, I am out of here. Chop your finger off if you really want to get rid of it so bad,” she responded, and then stormed out of the house.

Sipho just stayed there and never bothered to go after her. He thought long and hard about what he had to do.

Tell us: What do you think Sipho needs to do next?