**Someone Elses Ring**
Work had piled up, and Emma decided to skip lunch altogether. Then her phone rangMum.
Mum, what is it? Im swamped, Emma answered hurriedly.
Love Her mothers voice was faint, distant. I dont feel well
Emma waited, thinking the call might drop, but all she heard was a groan.
Mum? I can barely hear youhang on, Im coming! She grabbed her coat from the rack.
Cover for me, she muttered to a colleague before rushing out.
Only outside did she realise shed dashed out in office heels. No time to go backshe sprinted to the car park. The keys to her mums flat were in the glovebox. The phone had startled her, and she drove recklessly, breaking every traffic rule. A fine be damnedshe had to make it.
When she burst into the flat, Mum was curled on the sofa, clutching her chest.
Your heart? Emma asked, kneeling beside her.
Mum winced, barely opening her eyes.
Hold on. Emma dialled 999, hands shaking.
It wouldve been quicker to drive Mum to hospital, but could she even make it downstairs? No lift in the building. And no neighbours to helpjust elderly folk home at this hour.
While waiting for the ambulance, Emma rubbed her mums shoulder, murmuring reassurance. She left the door ajar. When the paramedics arrived in their blue uniforms, she stumbled through an explanation.
The medic checked Mums pulse, then his expression darkened.
Were taking her in. Yougather her documents.
Whats wrong? Emmas voice cracked.
Likely a heart attack. He shook his head.
Soon, Mum was on a stretcher. Emma wanted to ride along, but the medic refusedtoo crowded. He gave her the hospital number instead.
She drove back to work, cutting through side streets to avoid traffic. But halfway, the car lurcheda flat tyre. Perfect.
She pulled over, cursing. Changing it in heels? Impossible. Just as tears welled, a Land Rover stopped beside her. A man stepped out.
Spare tyre?
She nodded, relief flooding her. He fetched tools, got to work.
Get in the car. Youll freeze.
She did, calling Jamesno answer. The stranger took ages, but eventually tapped her window.
All set. Get that tyre patched later.
How much do I owe you?
He smirked. Where were you rushing in those shoes?
Mum calledshes in hospital. Heart trouble.
His grin faded. Hope she recovers. He handed her wet wipes and left.
Back at the office, she collided with her boss near the lift.
Emma, really? Two hours for lunch? The woman checked her watch. One more stunt like this, and its a formal warning.
Emma exhaled sharply.
She rang her friend Lucy, who worked at the same hospital. Half an hour lateran eternityLucy called back. No heart attack, just severe angina. Mum was stable, likely moving to a ward tomorrow.
You okay? Lucy asked.
Blew off work, got a flat, and James wont answer his phone.
Hang in there.
James never called back. At home, he was glued to his laptop.
Where were you? I rang a hundred times!
Work. Had meetings.
All day?
Muted my phone. Whats the emergency?
Mums in hospital! I got a flat, and you couldnt be bothered to call back?
Drive carefully next time. Hows your mum?
They made up, but unease clung to her.
***
Shed met James two years ago in a café. Lucy had nudged her*Bloke at three oclock cant take his eyes off you.*
Emma glanced over, flustered when their eyes met. Hed sauntered over, grinning.
*Mind if I join you?*
Lucy made an excuse to leave. They talked for hours, strolled through London. Emma fell hard. Two weeks later, he moved in.
She waited for a proposal, nudged him. But James insisted living together was one thing; marriage required his own flat first. Two years passed.
Mum nagged*If he hasnt proposed yet, he wont.*
On weekends, James played tennis with mates while Emma cleaned. He had a habit of stuffing dirty shirts into the wardrobe. One day, rummaging for laundry, she noticed a bulge in his jacket pocketa velvet box.
Her breath hitched. Inside, a diamond ring glimmered. She slid it ona perfect fit. *Hes proposing on my birthday.* Giddy, she returned it.
Next day, the ring was gone.
On her birthday, James toasted her, then handed her a box. Her pulse racedbut inside were earrings. His face fell at her disappointment.
Later, she confronted him. *Whos the ring for?*
*Mates. His girlfriend wouldve found it.*
She didnt believe him.
*Didnt know you went through my things. Dont like the earrings? Fine, well get a ring tomorrow.*
*We will,* she said coldly.
At the jewellers, the assistant smiled. *Another ring? Didnt she like the first one?*
Emma froze. *You lied.*
James stammered, but she fled, shaking.
He called; she ignored him. Tears blurred her vision until a knock startled herthe same man whod changed her tyre.
*Flat again?* His smile vanished when he saw her face.
Over coffee, she spilled everything.
*Maybe youre wrong,* Daniel said. *Couldve been his mates.*
*Doesnt matter. He strung me along.*
He brought her ice cream. *Always helped me as a kid.*
***
She left James. Daniel kept bumping into her, then asked her out. Weekends in York, Brighton She let him stay over but refused to live together. Four months later, he proposed with a modest ringtiny diamond, huge heart. She never took it off.
Sometimes she wonderedhow long would James have lied if she hadnt found that ring?
Lesson learned: if youre not ready for skeletons, dont go rifling through wardrobes. Or pockets.
