My fingers wondered restlessly until they found my ring on the left hand. I often stopped to look at it. It was a way to remember what it meant.


    The snow outside was proof of the cold, but the sun was starting to rise earlier. The winter was coming to an end.


    I lacked the will to go, to continue and do what needed to be done. It was beyond my power to quit. I looked at the mirror one last time to fix my posture and took a deep breath.


    "Are you ready?"


    I wasn''t ready, but I think he knew that. There was a short moment of silence before I answered.


    "I need to be"


    After my words, I felt his hands touch my shoulders from behind and I turned around. The marks of his age were easier to see while he was smiling to me.


    "Very good"


    He started to walk to the door as I looked at the portrait on the wall. My face couldn''t show how conflicted I was. The idea of staying there on that comfortable armchair near the chimney seemed more tempting every second.


    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.I had lost the whole night looking at the object hung on my wall just across the room.


    Bertrand looked at me as I just stood there.


    "What is it?"


    "There is something that must be done before I go"


    He did not understand clearly, but nodded and got out of the room, acknowledging my words. It took a lot of me to give the firt step. I walked, stepping on the red carpet, and silently raised the portrait.


    The fear of uncertainty made me look once again at the image of the man I was supposed to be. It was a way of showing myself that there was still time to put it back. I took a deep breath once again.


    It barely fit when I throwed it on the fire of the chimney.


    That act gave me a bitter freedom.


    It was time to rebuild everything.