A Lesson to Learn

Chapter 2

Upon spotting the gaudy and ornate jewelry box filled with rings, Rey knew that she would be walking away with one today. She didn't normally wear a lot of jewelry, but she was loyal to the few pieces that she did wear - a plain watch, her mother's bracelet (that she had inherited when she passed years ago) decorated with her October birthstone (an opal), and a simple silver band on her left middle finger. Due to this, she was a little surprised when her gut told her to go to the rings and select one. But, never one to doubt her dependable gut, Rey put her confidence in whatever her subconscious was trying to tell her and trusted that indulging in a new piece of adornment would appease her as a treat for her horrible day and subsequent bad mood.

As she rifled through the contents of the jewelry box, Rey had the odd suspicion that someone was watching her, but dismissed it as she knew from her first glance around that the store was empty aside from the clerk. She tried on several pieces and turned her hand this way and that way to better gauge her feelings for them. None of them felt right so she threw them back in before she pulled out a beautiful silver ring. The ring was decorated with engraved ivy swirling around the band that came together to the centerpiece - a black opal. Beautiful, Rey mused as she put it on her right ring finger. She felt her lips stretching into a smile as she admired the ring that fit perfectly on her delicate hand. What are the odds?

The perfect fit and her slowly brightening mood were all the further convincing she needed to know that this was the ring for her. Who says money can't buy (momentary) happiness? She thought as she walked towards the old man and the counter, ring still on her finger. Rey took the ring off, made small talk with the man (revealing more about her desperate need for retail therapy than she intended to in her excited state), paid and then walked out the door with the ring back on her hand. Who knows, maybe when she got home she might take a bath and relax. It had just been that type of day.

***

Rey walked the rest of the way home with a smile. She texted Poe a quick - are we still on for dinner? - before stepping into her apartment. Rey was instantly attacked by an overly excited Chewbacca (affectionately known as Chewie), her brown Australian Cattle Dog mix. He barked and looked at her with adoration as he stood on his hind legs to greet her, licking her hands as she attempted to lightly push the medium-sized menace off of her so she could get fully in the apartment and close the door. Rey looked at the dog and said, in her best dog mom cooing, "Do you want to see what mommy bought? Mommy had a bad bad day today, Chewie. She needed her retail therapy, didn't she? Look at what she bought."

Chewie, obviously not giving a damn about whatever his mom had bought, turned in a circle before giving more attention to her shoes as Rey slipped them off than the hand she was holding up for him to admire. "Typical. When it's something for me you don't care unless there's something in it for you. You're such a bad son", she chastised the dog with a pat on his head before taking off her layers and settling into the apartment. It was a small one bedroom with an open concept kitchen and living room floor plan, and a decent sized bathroom. It had a tub that was big enough to soak in, was walking distance from the First Order and Poe, and had heating and air conditioning. So really, it was all she wanted. She had even installed a rain shower showerhead when she signed the two year lease, knowing that indulging in such a luxury was never not going to be rewarding for her. What could she say? She really lived the "treat yourself" mantra.

Rey looked around her apartment, decorated in dusk rose, gray, navy, and black tones. The place was livened up by several pieces of art on the walls and plants everywhere. Rey was a millennial and her house surely showed it. She supported local businesses and artists, and took pride in adding art pieces to her collection whose creators' she knew personally. Poe's boyfriend also conveniently worked at a local greenhouse and nursery and had slowly but surely helped feed her growing addiction to plants of all kinds. Her current pride and joy was a luscious looking monstera that took up a whole corner of her apartment. She felt content as she breathed in - bad mood almost evaporated - and lit a fall-scented candle before she sat on her couch. She looked at her phone to find a text from Poe: yeah, does 7:30 pm still work for you? I was thinking Finn and I bring wine and we can watch a romcom movie after?