The narrator reflects on a conversation with a woman who expresses her wishes regarding valuable items, like a ruby choker and a pearl and emerald set, meant for the narrator's future spouse. The narrator feels unprepared for marriage, indicating a carefree attitude towards the future. However, the woman's poignant remark about dying highlights the contrast between her acceptance of life's impermanence and the narrator's reluctance to confront significant change.

After the woman’s passing, the narrator grapples with the burden of her advice and wishes. The physical remnants, stored in flat red boxes, symbolize unexamined emotions and unresolved decisions about love and future happiness. The narrator's inability to face these items reflects a wider struggle with loss and the complexity of moving forward, ultimately leading to feelings of regret for not heeding the woman's wishes.