2: 2
I'd heard the noise and come back, and I answered for him instead:
"It doesn't mean anything. Just some hotel package gimmick."
Then I took the receipt, and vanished into the night.
The next day, I went straight to the old medina market.
The lamp had given me a new life, so it was time to deal with a few old things.
I stepped into a jewelry shop that looked ancient, the air thick with mixed spices.
From the pocket close to my chest, I took out the silver bracelet I'd worn for years.
Kent Hughes had designed and shaped it himself.
Back then his company was just getting off the ground, and he was flat broke.
But he'd spent a whole month designing and making this silver bracelet by hand.
He kissed my hand, his eyes shining.
"Sylvia, I know I'm making you go without. Once I have money, I'll design you the biggest, reddest gemstone ring in the world, and you'll marry me."
The memory rose like sand on the wind, stinging my eyes.
I set the silver bracelet on the counter.
"Sir, could you take a look at this? I'd like to sell it."
The white-bearded Moroccan man glanced at it and shook his head.
"Miss, this isn't worth much. Just ordinary silver."
Just then the wind chime at the shop door rang.
I turned to look without thinking, and it was Kent and Cynthia Swanson.
Seeing them come in, the white-bearded owner smiled at once and brought out a velvet box.
"Mr. Hughes, the ring you ordered is finished."
The box opened, and a pigeon-blood ruby glinted in the sunlight.
The style of the ring matched, down to the smallest detail, the sketch Kent had once designed for me.
Cynthia let out a delighted cry.
"Kent, when did you sneak off and order this? It's gorgeous!"
She cradled the ring in her palm, unable to put it down.
She leaned into Kent's arms.
"Thank you. I love it."
Kent gently slid the ring onto her finger.
"You went through so much hardship with me. You deserve the best."
His voice was low, but it landed square on my heart.
The ring he had once promised me was now on another woman's finger.
When Kent finished speaking and looked up, only then did he see me standing on the other side of the counter.
And the dull, faded silver bracelet lying in front of me.
His expression turned unnatural in an instant.
"It's just… just a similar design…"
I looked at him and dragged out a smile.
Cynthia had noticed me too, and the smile fell from her face.
She recognized the bracelet in front of me.
The air went awkward for a moment.
I took back the bracelet, told the shop owner I was sorry, and turned to leave first.
I made my way through the packed crowd to the market's management office.
I gently placed the bracelet into the lost-and-found box by the door.
"Hello. I found this bracelet."
"If no one comes to claim it in a week, please dispose of it."
Once it was done, something heavy inside me finally lifted.
Then someone grabbed my wrist from behind.
Kent had chased after me, glaring at me.
"Sylvia Floyd! Do you really have to do this?"
I looked at him and tried to pull free, but couldn't.
"Kent, you're hurting me."
"Hurting? So you know what hurting is?"
He gave a cold laugh.
"Back when you walked off without a word, when you were playing me for a fool, did you ever stop to think whether I might hurt?"
I gave up struggling and looked at him, saying it word by word.
"Since the ring you promised me has already gone to someone else,"
"it wouldn't be right for this bracelet to stay with me either."
My words froze him, and the grip on my wrist loosened.
At the market entrance, Cynthia stood there, staring blankly at the two of us.
In the sunlight, the ruby ring on her hand shone painfully bright.
"So… this ring's design, it was originally made for you?"
