 How does the meaning of the engraved ring change throughout the story?
Images began to appear, drawn from inexhaustible files, wherein are kept all thoughts, past, present, and future.... She held the ring up to the light and read aloud, "It is forever." She took off the locket she wore about her neck and held it up to the shimmering light, letting it spin at the end of its chain. Those who had remained alive had found a resting place on the crown of some distant mountain. Even their governments had vanished, leaving a silent nothingness. Their families had long since died, their bodies turned to dust, their spirits fled on the winds to a new world. With what few men he had left, he had commandeered a small yacht, and they had taken to the sea.
 At first it is a declaration of commitment, but soon shows that its pledge exists in death, becoming a haunting symbol of how love doesn’t last forever.
 At first it is a declaration of everlasting love, but soon shows that its pledge exists
past death, becoming a haunting symbol of how love can bleed into death.  At first it is a declaration of everlasting love, but soon shows that its pledge exists
past death, becoming a haunting symbol what can happen when love isn’t returned home.  At first it is a declaration of everlasting marriage, but soon shows that its pledge even exists in war, becoming a symbol of how love can survive death and overcome all trials.  At first it is a declaration of commitment, but soon shows that its pledge exists in death, becoming a haunting symbol of how love doesn’t last forever.