At home, I photographed the ring in good light, including the inscription.

I did not polish it or try to alter the band.

I wrote down where I had found it and what Samantha had told me about it.

The act of writing helped.

Found beside sealed inner bag.

Samantha said ring remained on his finger.

Inscription not present before trip, to my knowledge.

Those were statements I could make without inventing the missing days.