How to Help Howell?

Part 39

Dan

I knew exactly how we both felt after we had visited the fountain. So as soon as three days had passed since Phil's ring went "missing", I drove right to the jewelers again to check on the ring.

I pulled up to the jewelers and stopped the car. Feeling elated and absolutely ready to propose, I opened the door, hearing the familiar bell chiming, indicating the door had opened.

"Hey, Carl, how's the ring coming I think I might need it soon, but I also want it to be perfect, so if it's not done I can wait a little longer but I'm not sure how long I can wait because I'm so excited and nervous, but I think he'll say yes because we were looking at the stars last night and if I give him the star ring he's been looking for he'll probably say yes but I don't know-"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, slow down, kid. Speaking of the ring, I actually just finished it, would you like to see it?" he smiled at me, amused at my excitement. I nodded vigorously to stop myself from rambling on and on about Phil.

He took me to the back of the shop, tools and different metallic materials scattered everywhere. We went to the way, way back until we came to a small work table. And on the table was the most perfect engagement ring that I have ever seen.

It was shiny and gold, all pretty and new. Small, somehow star-shaped crystals embedded in the band. But one of my favorite aspects of the ring was the inside. On the inside of the band was a word engraved in cursive. It wasn't much, but it was exactly what I had in mind.

Infinite

I loved it. And Phil would love it too. I needed to propose to him. Today. I was so overwhelmed with emotions, but I was determined not to cry again. No more tears. I was done with tears. Now is to be happy. Phil and I would be together forever. Until death do us part. Married. Husbands. In love. For infinity. We were infinite.

I pulled Carl into a hug and he gladly hugged back, just happy to see me so happy. We went back into the lobby for me to pay for the small band of gold and crystal that would unite us forever.

But when we got back into the lobby, something was different. There was a man. In all black. And a ski mask. Armed. With a gun. And it was pointed at me.

"You are both going to fit as much jewelry in this bag as possible. And all the money in the cash register. Quickly!" he waved the gun around towards the showcases and the cash register. How is this happening?

"But this is my shop, how I earn a living! Please, I have a wife and three kids, I need to pay for the house and their education, this job doesn't pay that much, it's all I have. Please sir, please, please!" Carl tried to reason with the burglar, he was on his hands and knees pleading for mercy. My jaw dropped, but I stayed silent.

"Get up, old man, or we'll have to do this the hard way," he cocked the gun and aimed it right for Carl's head. How could anyone be so heartless, so cruel, so misunderstanding?

"No, no, please, my children!" he started to sob, I could see the little trails of tears falling down his cheeks and dropping to the floor. I was frozen in fear, pure adrenaline pumping through my veins and my head racing, trying to think of what the heck I was going to do to save Carl and his shop. I knew how it felt to lose a family member, and I was not going to let it happen to Carl's family.

"You're getting too annoying. Goodbye." the criminal retorted.

As soon as I saw the slightest bit of pressure applied to the trigger, Something inside me clicked, and my reflexes made my legs spring into action and I jumped right in front of Carl, blocking him from danger.