For 40 years, my wedding ring has been a constant companion—a silent witness to love, resilience, and every twist life has thrown my way. Its once brilliant shine had dulled, but I still cherished it. One afternoon, I decided it deserved some care and took it to a jeweler for a professional cleaning.
The jeweler studied my ring under his magnifier, his brow furrowing deeper with each careful turn. Then he straightened, meeting my gaze with an unsettling intensity. “You shouldn’t have this,” he said, his voice low and deliberate. The words landed like a jolt. My stomach twisted. What did he mean…and why did I suddenly feel afraid?