Oh Bernie....what a moving story. You have a way to tell your story. It's ok that it took you 25 years. Like you said, there is no right and there is no wrong. I loved my rings too and I am saddened with the symbolism that it holds. I took them off even when I was married because I felt the marriage died way before I actually ended it.

As a story nerd, the exercise was an object and hit it out of the ball park as the ring is the front and center of your entire piece. Full points for you and I have no more feedback on the writing piece.