I went into the forest with my father. Suddenly, he grabbed my hand and said, “Finally, we’re alone. Come here, let me kiss you. I’ve wanted to do this for so long.” I recoiled from him in horror. But my father came closer, took me by the shoulders, and whispered, “Don’t be afraid, darling. Your mother will never know what happened between us.” I started shaking. And when he said, “I’ve waited 19 years for this moment,” I froze in fear…

I sat down on the bench.

The father continued:

“Before she died, Katherine had one last wish. She wanted me to bring you here when you turned nineteen.”

— Why here?

The father pointed to a forest clearing.

“Because this is where we first met. And it was next to this bench that I proposed to her.”

I looked at the ring.

— Is this her wedding ring?

• Yes.

But something still bothered me.

— Then why did you want to kiss me? Why did you speak so strangely?

The father lowered his head.

“My words were terribly poor, my dear. Today I wanted to give you your mother’s ring and kiss your forehead the way she used to when you were a baby. But I was so excited I didn’t even realize how terrifying my words sounded.”