Sleep never came.
Miranda lay on her bed with her eyes fixed on the ceiling, listening to the faint sound of the grandfather clock downstairs marking each passing minute.
The house had long since fallen silent.
Everyone else seemed to have found rest.
She hadn't.
With a quiet sigh, she sat up and reached for the bedside lamp.
A warm glow spread across the room, pushing back the darkness just enough to reveal the engagement ring resting against her hand.
She stared at it.
It looked exactly the way it had a few hours ago when Adrian had slipped it onto her finger.
Nothing about it had changed.
Only the person wearing it had.
Miranda slowly slid the ring from her finger.
The movement was almost instinctive.
She held it between her thumb and forefinger, turning it gently until the diamond caught the light.
It was beautiful.
Elegant.
Every young woman she knew would have admired it.
Years ago...
She probably would have admired it too.
