What My Wedding Ring Hid

The jeweler’s words hung in the air, sharp and chilling. I struggled to keep my voice steady as I asked, “What do you mean I shouldn’t have this?” He didn’t answer right away, his eyes darting between my face and the ring. The weight of his silence was unbearable, twisting my unease into something darker.

He turned the ring over again, focusing on something so small I couldn’t see it. I leaned closer, but he pulled it back, keeping it just out of my reach. “What is it?” I asked, my voice cracking slightly. Still, he said nothing. What could be hidden in something I thought I knew so well?