Zoya’s P.O.V
Before anything else, I set my mind into treating the patients that were waiting to get treated by me. I had foregone all the things that had been bothering me, in order to be able to focus on the people that needed my immediate attention. And I had been successful in immersing myself in my work, then, and not once had I thought about Lily, or Ezra, or Ravi, or even Sam. I was in the zone, and having to deal with patients while armed with a friendly smile on my face tricked my own mind that everything was just fine. Then, once things were finally in order, and I could finally afford to pay attention to my worries, I clocked out for my lunch break, fiddling with my ring.
I walked out of the clinic, still lost in thought about Lily, her mysterious death, and Ezra’s strange behavior, also determined to get my time and money's worth in exchange for this stupid ring.
As I made my way to the jewelry shop, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. Maybe this ring could be the start of my new life, a clean slate, a chance to leave everything behind.
The jewelry shop was located in the heart of the town, just a few blocks away from the clinic where I worked. When I walked inside the door, the sound of the bell overhead signaled my arrival. The shop was dimly lit, but the light from the outside street lamps allowed me to see the glass cases that contained the shiny jewelry, and the walls were painted in a light shade of pink, and the room had a sweet fragrance that reminded me of vanilla.
Despite the shop's beauty, I couldn't help but feel out of place. The expensive jewelry made me feel like an outsider, and I wondered if I should have dressed more formally for the occasion. I felt like a fraud, trying to sell a ring from a relationship that wasn't even real. But I knew I had to do this to move on from my past and start anew.
However, I couldn't help but notice how empty it was at the same time. There was only one customer inside, an elderly woman admiring a bracelet. I approached the jeweler and took the ring out of my pocket.
“Excuse me, sir. Can you tell me how much this ring is worth?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly. As I waited for the jeweler's reply, I couldn't help but feel a growing sense of unease, though I only had an inkling about where the discomfort was stemming from.
I watched the middle aged man through the glass display case, his bald head reflecting the overhead lights. He held my ring up to the light and examined it closely, his brow furrowing in concentration.
The longer he took, the more nervous I became. I fidgeted with the strap of my purse and shifted my weight from one foot to the other. Finally, the jeweler set my ring down on the velvet pad and turned to face me. My heart raced as he opened his mouth to speak, bracing myself for the worst.
"The diamond in this ring is not real," he said matter-of-factly. My heart sank. I had suspected as much, but to hear it confirmed was a blow to my pride. I couldn't believe that Ravi had given me a fake diamond ring. Was there anything in our relationship that had been remotely real?
The jeweler looked at the ring for a few more seconds before turning back to me with a grim expression on his face. “I'm sorry, miss. It really is fake. It's worth practically nothing,” he said, his voice heavy with disappointment.
My heart sank as I realized the truth about Ravi's supposed “gift” to me. No wonder he hadn't asked for it back. He probably knew it was fake all along. The ring was just another fake thing in our fake relationship. All the wasted time and effort…it all came back to haunt me with full force.
Just then, as I thanked the jeweler, left the shop and made my way back, lost in thought, feeling foolish and embarrassed, I heard someone calling my name, an all too familiar voice behind me. “Zoya?”
I turned around to see him standing there, looking concerned. “What are you doing here?” I watched Ezra as he jogged over to where I was standing outside the jewelry shop.
The white t-shirt he wore accentuated his broad shoulders and strong arms, and the high waist black pants showing off his long lean legs. His dark hair was tousled and fell in gentle waves over his forehead, framing his chiseled jawline and piercing green eyes. I guess checking him out was my way of getting my mind off of my failed relationship.
I couldn't help but feel a tinge of attraction towards Ezra, and as I watched him come over toward me, it felt like I was seeing that moment in slow motion. He had an air of confidence and sophistication about him that drew me in. He carried himself with a quiet strength that suggested he had seen and experienced much in life, yet, despite his commanding presence, there was a gentleness to his demeanor that put me at ease.
His smile was warm and genuine, and his voice had a deep, soothing quality to it. I found myself getting lost in his gaze, and for a moment, all my worries and troubles seemed to fade away.
“I saw you walking in and thought I'd say hi,” he said with a smile, breaking me out of my thoughts. He had this effect on me that was similar to how Sam made me feel, but in a polar opposite way.
“I was planning on selling this ring,” I told him, raising the accessory so he could see. When he gestured for me to give it to him, I handed him the ring, my disappointment written all over my face. “It's fake.”
Ezra's face fell for a moment before he suddenly dropped the ring on the ground. I was about to scold him when I saw that his finger had turned red and blistered. “What happened?” I asked, noticing the burn.
“I'm…allergic to silver,” he explained, wincing. He seemed to be avoiding my eyes, although that might have also been something to do with the fact that he just got burned. “My skin reacts badly to it.”
I dug into my first aid kit and quickly treated his burn, putting a tiny band-aid on top just to make sure it didn’t get infected. “There. All better.” I looked up into his eyes. “I’m sorry…I didn’t know.”
“That’s fine.” He smiled back and everything seemed to be alright again.
Then, we decided to head to a nearby outdoor café for a drink.
As we sipped our beverages, I finally spoke up, breaking the comfortable silence between us. “Thank you,” I said sincerely. “For the flowers and the coffee.”
“I wanted to give you something to make you feel better. Those flowers and coffee… they're a small token of my appreciation for all you've done.” Ezra gave me a small smile. “Pink carnations signify purity. You have a pure heart, Zoya. You didn't deserve what happened to you. You need to forget about those who betrayed you and move forward. In the end, no one will do that for you. Sometimes the only way to heal is to move forward.”
I nodded, feeling the weight of his words. And now that I knew about his past, I couldn’t stop myself when I asked: “Is this how you’re moving on? From Lily?”