She stared at the object in her hand, it was the only thing that she had left to remind her of him. It was so cold now, every now and then she thought that she could feel a heat burning from it. But, really, that was just wishful thinking. She kept it close to her skin, enjoying the sharp feel against her soft flesh. Every now and then it would cut it to her, but the pain inflicted was pleasurable, too. It kept her feeling, hoping.
Many, many years later the string finally snapped. It fell to the ground, clattering as it hit the hard floor. She stared down at it and for the first time saw it for what it was. A keepsake. A token. A relic. She stared at for a few moments longer and finally moved away.
A voice called after her.
"Excuse me, miss? I think you dropped this."
The man held out the metal object to her. She stared at it.
"No, that's not mine. It must belong to someone else."
The man looked to her and then back at the key that he grasped in his hand.
Rose turned her back, leaving the past where it belongs, and walked away.