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.”
Just as I stepped out of the jewelry store, my phone buzzed. Landon’s so-called distant cousin, Brittany Walker, had just posted a new update. In the photo, Landon was on one knee, holding the custom diamond ring I’d just seen, surrounded by flowers. Across from him stood Brittany, smiling brightly and clutching a bouquet of roses. The caption read: [Romantic until death!]