No Strings Attached

He remembered distinctly that a sketch of a necklace was tucked away in his mother's drawer. It was identical in design, from the shape and number of diamonds to every last detail.

At the time, he was captivated by the necklace, thinking it was stunningly beautiful. He was sure that it would look amazing on his little sister's neck.

His mother watched him, engrossed, and with a smile, she tousled his hair gently. She said softly, "This is a design I made for Aunt May's little girl, a sort of betrothal gift from you to her. Do you think it's pretty? He felt a bit shy then, but he still nodded with a smile.

Later, when May met with tragedy, no one spoke of the necklace again. Perhaps it was a private pact between his mother and May. Others might not have been privy to it.

So when May clasped that necklace tightly in her final moments, what was she trying to say?

lan felt a choking sensation in his chest, and he abruptly stood up to step out onto the balcony, flinging open the window to take deep breaths of the outside air.

own hands. She had been so hopeful for their union, so why was

background, or had something happened

necklace with me for now. I'm going to trace its

gynecology department.

office, she asked, "Doctor, is there any improvement in

report and frowned deeply. "Premature ovarian failure isn't easily remedied. Some patients take medication for years without any effect. You've only been on treatment for three

am I never going to be able

can't give up. However, I must remind you that if you plan to marry,

infertile. The remaining twenty percent was complicated by a retroverted uterus. So, the odds of her

her eyes brimming with tears, clutching the lab report as if it were