Just an Ordinary Ring
She’d had the ring for a couple of years now, tucked away in a small box in her drawer. Occasionally, she’d glance at it, admiring the way it sparkled in the light, but she never thought it was anything out of the ordinary. It was beautiful, sure—but to Melissa, it was just a pretty gift from someone no longer in her life.
Melissa never gave it much thought beyond that. The ring had no particular memories tied to it, no romantic backstory worth retelling. It was simply a remnant of a past relationship she was ready to let go of. But little did she know, the moment she walked into that jewelry shop, everything she believed about that ring would change forever.
Sounds Behind the Door
The shop was quiet except for the faint hum of a ceiling fan and the occasional creak of old wooden floors. Melissa stood near the front counter, glancing around at the display cases filled with shimmering stones. From behind a closed door, she could hear drawers being opened and papers rustling. Mr. Harris, the jeweler, was clearly looking for something.
She caught snippets of muffled speech, a low murmur that didn’t seem directed at anyone. He sounded like he was talking to himself, though she couldn’t make out any words. Melissa assumed it was just part of his routine—maybe he always muttered while he worked. Still, there was something strange about the urgency in his movements that made her pause and listen more closely.
