Fate Ring

She wore me on her finger as she yelled, tears were streaming down her face. She was angry. Then, she took me off, threw me at him, and ran. That was the last time I saw her, the last time I called her finger home. Her name was Honey.

He held me in his hand tightly as he yelled and cursed after her. After he shouted at an empty doorway for what felt like eternity, he shoved me in his pocket. He never pulled me back out. That was the last time I saw him. His name was Dear.

I don't know how long I've been in his pocket. I hear voices, but I never see any faces. All I see is darkness.

Darkness. It's an odd thing. Even after being in darkness for so long, you somehow manage to find comfort in the loneliness.

That is, until someone pulls you out.

The light is blinding. I see the face of a young man, a different man. His face is scruffy and there are shadows around his eyes. He looks tired. His clothes are worn; his jacket has holes. That must be why he picked up my jacket. Dear's jacket.

He holds me close to his face, examining me. I try my best to shine for him. All seven of my stones shimmer in the pale light. Slowly, a smile grows on his face. His eyes light up and he laughs. Do I look funny to him? I've been stuck in a jacket pocket for I don't know how long. This lighting is not the greatest, I know I am not shining the way I am meant to. Still, does that make me look funny?

"You," the man says to me. "You are a blessing." He continues to laugh quietly. He looks up to the ceiling. "Just when I thought you weren't listening," he whispers. Why is he talking to the ceiling? Who is up there?

The man takes me to a counter. It looks like the counter at my old store, only there are no earrings behind the glass. He hands the woman behind the counter some money. Normally, when I see people buy things like me, they use plastic. I've never seen paper money used for things like me before.

I was stuck in the pocket of that jacket for so long. I was discarded and forgotten. Does that make me cheap now?

I am brought to an old truck. It is green, rusted, and overall just looks like it is in very bad shape. This man must not have a lot of money if his things look worn and old.

The man sets me down on the seat next to his and looks at me.

"I just can't believe it," he says quietly. "You're beautiful. Who would just leave you in a coat?" He puts on his new coat. I notice the price tag on the sleeve. He bought the coat, not me. I just came with it. It looks better on him than it did on Dear. Even with his unkempt hair.

I try my best to sparkle for him. This is the only way I can thank him for his compliment.

He puts his car in gear and begins driving.

"Now what do I do?" he asks. Is he talking to me or himself? "I have some money set aside that I was saving. I take her out for a nice dinner. Pop the question as if it were the first time, but now I have you." He glances over at me. "Perfect."

He reaches out and grabs me, placing me back in the pocket of the jacket. Hopefully I won't be forgotten this time.

I am pulled out of the pocket some time later. This time I am in a restaurant and a pretty woman sits in front of me. The man is on the ground on his knee holding me delicately in between his fingers.

"Will you marry me?" he asks the woman before him. Just like the last one had.

The woman is in tears. She nods her head vigorously before reaching her hand out. The man slides me onto her finger gently. Once I am in my rightful place, she holds me up to her face. She examines me closely. I try my best to sparkle and shine for her.

I'm sorry that I'm cheap now, ma'am, but I can still be beautiful.

"It's so beautiful," she says, smiling at me, mesmerized by my shimmering stones. "We agreed I didn't need a ring, babe" she says to the man that gave me to her. "We don't have the money right now."

"I know, love," Babe says. "But, I wanted you to have one. I saw the way you looked when I agreed I wouldn't get you one. You were disappointed. You want the fairy tale. You want the ring. You want a beautiful wedding. I know you do."

"Yes, but I don't want to be irresponsible about it, either," Love says. The tone of her voice tells me that she is starting to get angry.

Please, don't get angry. Your hand is soft and warm. I want it to be home.

"I wasn't, I promise," Babe responds. "I was at the thrift store looking for a new jacket and, well, it was in the pocket." I watch as Love's face turns from angry to happy. "You were destined for a ring, love. I want you to have everything you want in life. Apparently, fate does too. I'll get you one of your own when we have the money for it. I promise."

"No, babe," Love whispers, tears in her eyes again. "This is a Fate Ring. It's perfect. I never want another one."

I've never heard of fate. Love and Babe seem to think it is a good thing. Babe leans over the table to kiss Love. They seem very happy. I made them happy.

I'm a Fate Ring.

That makes me happy.