EB-Tiger79 t1_itrv2ok wrote on October 25, 2022 at 9:02 PM

My smiling fiancee looks up at me expectantly. He is on bended knee and has just placed a huge ruby and diamond engagement ring on my finger and seems to be waiting for something.

I feel my finger start to tingle. I look down at my new fiancee and say, "Wow! This ring feels almost magical!"

"It is magical, dear. It has been in my family for generations. The ruby is a good luck charm which has helped us gain our wealth over the years. I had it made into an engagement ring so that you can now become a full fledged member of the Platt family." He stood up and hugged me. "So how do you feel?"

I started to smile and kiss him, but then images started passing through my mind's eye. A juicy steak, a hot guy, a pile of gold... image after image of every desire you could dream of. I felt dizzy and looked for a place to sit down. There was a park bench nearby and I quickly sat down.

"It's alright, dear. The desire coursing through you will even out and you will start on your new path in life. No more working at the free clinic and giving of your precious time to those not deserving." His face looks almost gleeful. "You can become a world famous specialist and make boatloads of money."

I look up at the man I thought I knew so well. "Who was this guy?", I thought.

"I love working at the clinic. Helping those less fortunate is what makes me happy! How can you say they are not deserving?! Everyone is deserving of decent medical care!" I can feel my blood pressure rising.

"Calm down, dear. Just let the ring's magic sink in and you will singing a different tune soon enough. I am so excited that we are engaged now! I have to run to a business meeting, but I will see you later, honey." He leans down and gives me a kiss. He walks away with a happy bounce in his step.

I sit on the step, devastated. What should be the happiest moment of my life is starting to feel like the worst. I feel the ring pulse again on my finger. Images once again flood my mind.

"Stop that," I mutter to the ring. I don't want to look like a crazy person talking to herself. I center myself with a few deep breaths. The ring pulses once more and stops.

I am an engaged woman. I always thought that my boyfriend (so weird to call him my fiancee) was just a go-getter and would see the benefit of giving back to the community once he made it big. Now I know that is never going to happen. I knew that he hated the fact that as a doctor, I worked in the free clinic vs. private practice where I could make at least triple the amount of money I was making now. He had never really understood that I became a doctor to help people and not to make money. I look down at my finger - I guess I would see how uncorruptable I really was.

Need to run home for dinner. Hope to continue later/tomorrow.

EB-Tiger79 t1_itt1rgz wrote on October 26, 2022 at 2:19 AM

I get up from the park bench and ride the bus to the downtown clinic. I can feel the ring pulsing occasionally. I close my eyes and see image after image pass before me. Nothing tempting me so far, I think. I get up and head to work.

After cooking a nice steak stir fry for dinner, my fiancée walks in to my apartment. We always meet for dinner and Tuesday is my night to cook. I open a bottle of red wine to breathe and finish setting the table.

"Hello, dear." He kisses me on the cheek. "Dinner smells amazing!"

"Good evening, darling." I reply. "How was you day?"

"Something extremely exciting happened at lunch today. I got engaged!"

"Congratulations! Do I know the girl?"

"Ha ha. Sometimes I wonder if I know the woman to whom I pledged myself to." He sits down at the table.

"I wonder that too," I mutter to myself. I serve our dinner and sit down to join him.

"How are you enjoying your new ring, honey?"

"It is amazing. Everyone at work wanted to know where you got such a unique ring. I told them you custom designed it. As far as I am concerned, I sometimes forget that I am wearing it and other times I can feel it pulsing on my finger. It will definitely take some getting used to."

"That it will. I remember when my father presented it to me on my 21st birthday. He had made it into a class style ring and had written the words 'Nitimur in vetitum'."

"We strive for the forbidden?! What kind of inspirational quote is that?" I have often wondered how his father had convinced him to change his major in college.

"My father was preparing me for life. That ring changed me in so many ways over the years. I was such a young idealist back then..." his voice trails off as his memories wash over him.

He gets up and begins clearing the table. Our deal is one of cooks and one of cleans.

After cleaning up, we snuggle on the couch and watch a movie. I feel myself falling asleep and snuggle deeper into him. He begins kissing me and I push him off.

"I'm tired and going to bed. You can spend the night if you want, but if you leave make sure you lock up."

"Don't you want me?" He looks surprised.

"I'm tired, honey. Maybe tomorrow." I say sleepily.

"But the ring should be increasing your desire..."

"Dear, I am going to sleep. We can discuss your ring theories in the morning."

I head for bed leaving his shocked face behind me. Seems that there is much more to this ring then meets the eye. I am much too tired to think it through though and I collapse into bed and sleep soundly.