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When Landon and his so–called distant. cousin fed each other wine mouth–to- mouth, my stomach churned so violently that I nearly coughed up blood.
Gasps filled the room, and my face went pale as paper, but he seemed completely unfazed, almost leaning in for a full kiss in front of everyone.
The day I was discharged from the hospital, Landon came to pick me up. A bright bouquet of roses lay on the passenger seat, looking painfully out of place. I reached to move them, but he frowned, grabbing the roses first.
“They’re not for you. Sit in the back.”
Silently, I settled into the back seat. A few minutes into the drive, my phone rang–a call from the jewelry store.
“Mr. Wright, the ring you ordered has arrived. You can pick it up anytime.”
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Without a glance back at me, Landon took a sharp turn toward the store. Well, I thought, it’s about time to return that engagement ring.
The car stopped outside the shop, and Landon strode inside with a spring in his step.
The clerk approached Landon, presenting a red velvet box with both hands. He opened it with a smile, revealing a sparkling gemstone far more stunning than our engagement ring.
“Mr. Wright’s wife is going to be thrilled,” the clerk said proudly. “This ring was crafted by our best artisans, with every detail perfected over five days.”
The staff watched with anticipation as Landon, clearly pleased, complimented the clerk. But then his expression shifted–he glanced back at me, frowned, and quickly slipped the ring into his pocket. It was
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painfully clear: this ring wasn’t for me.
An awkward silence settled over us until
another clerk at the counter looked up and recognized me with surprise.
“Mrs. Wright! I was just about to call you. The engagement ring you and your husband ordered recently has arrived.”
“Oh, really?” I replied, feigning calm. “Then let’s see how it fits.”
As I stepped past Landon and approached the counter, the clerk had already placed the ring carefully in front of me. Set on a ring holder, twelve exquisite diamonds. circled a deep red gem in the center, gleaming like stars around the moon. Landon had designed this ring himself, once wanting me to feel as cherished as a
constellation.
But now, I was no longer his moon or stars.
He walked over, impatiently picked up the matching men’s ring, slid it onto his finger for a second, then tossed it back into
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the tray without a second glance. “Alright, that’s enough. I have somewhere to be, so take a taxi home.”
His cold, dismissive tone was a far cry from his earlier warmth. As he turned to leave, I stood there silently, no longer feeling the urge to chase after him, to argue, to fight like I had in the past.
Instead, I slowly removed the diamond ring from my finger, placing it back into the tray with a quiet resolve. “Have it melted down,” I told the clerk. “I don‘ t want it anymore.”
After the shock settled, the young clerk’s face turned pale with worry. “Mrs. Wright, was something not to your liking? We can remake it if necessary.”
Seeing her on the verge of tears, I quickly softened, offering a reassuring smile.
“Don’t worry, everything is perfect. The ring is beautiful… but the person isn’t right.”
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I took out my card and handed it over. She hesitated, then nodded. “Of course. Just one moment, please.”
After a brief word over her headset, two craftsmen emerged from the back. They carefully began prying each diamond from the ring, as if they were peeling away the final remnants of my love for Landon. One by one, the gems dropped, until only the smooth rings remained. The craftsmen then melted them down, transforming what was once a symbol of love into a shapeless piece of platinum.
The clerk gently collected the diamonds and the small bar of platinum, placing them into a box. She handed it to me with a hopeful smile. “These are fine stones. If you ever want a necklace or bracelet, please come back to us. And… I wish you find the right person someday.”
I took the package with a grateful smile, feeling lighter. “Thank you for the blessing. I know I will.”
