Claire’s eyes lingered on the glittering diamond ring in the display case, its finely cut facets catching the light of promises to come. Her boyfriend, Donny, beamed and squeezed her hand. Today should be the happiest day of her life, but she felt uneasy.
Donny wasn’t the problem. He never had been. He was everything she could hope for in a future husband.
She looked at Donny and forced a smile. “It’s beautiful,” she said.
She wanted to say yes. She wanted the future that ring promised. But she knew she must reject his proposal, though she couldn’t explain why. No longer could she ignore the inner voice that whispered “no.”
Claire took a deep breath and faced the truth. Love shouldn’t feel like a burden—an obligation she could not keep. Some things, even sparkling diamond rings, were just not meant to be.
