The next morning, Kiara woke up with a sense of resolve she hadn’t felt in years. Today, she was going to let go of the past and take a small step toward rebuilding her life. She got ready quickly, slipping the velvet box containing the emerald-encrusted ring into her bag. It was time to part with the last painful reminder of Ethan.
She arrived at the antique jewelry store in town, a quaint shop nestled between a bakery and a bookstore. The bell above the door chimed softly as she entered, her steps purposeful. The store smelled of polished wood and aged metal, and the dim lighting gave it an air of quiet elegance. Kiara took a deep breath. She was finally going to close this wretched chapter.