Wheeze, huff, puff why does my chest feel so tight, with each labored gasp I question why I suddenly feel this way. I know I need to calm down, the agitation will settle if I just wait. I close my eyes and with each sharp inhale and exhale I feel the tension reduce and the tightness fade. Once I catch my breath and can concentrate more clearly I notice an intensity surrounding me, with an abrupt yank I lose focus, I was in Matt’s high rise, but all around me is white fog.

“What the fuck is this?” I holler.

It doesn’t look like anything I remember seeing, in the mist a silhouette appears but I am not sure what it is, as I drag my feet closer I catch a slight glimpse of her.

“Eset, what are you doing, where are you? Holy shit! No, don’t touch that!” I yell frantically.

I can tell she doesn’t hear me; I don’t even know why I thought she could. This sucks, I want to beg her to stop I need to, but just as I know this, I know she will not hear me. I look over to the other side of this white fog and see the image of what looks to be a sign or billboard.

“Antiquities for the Soul” I speculate.

That’s a strange name, but the elation from seeing this sign is what sticks with me as I slowly come to, back in the high rise, I never even moved from the luxury leather king bed with its silky black sheets. That was new, I never want to feel that again. Laying back against the headboard, I  reach for my phone on the polished oak nightstand and search Antiquities for the Soul.

When the sun rises to the middle of the sky, I’m standing in front of an old building on the west side of town, the sign on the door lets me know I’m at the right place. I don’t know what’s waiting inside for me, but I clasp the handle and pull. Stepping inside I am struck speechless, but not by what I expected. The pristine opaque walls, everything inside encased in glass. The walls covered in bright red velvet with each case holding unique items. No what shocks me is the wooden box that I saw in a memory or a dream. I walk up to the box and stare at it, ugh I really despise this thing. Someone should cut this thing down. I’m so agitated I walk away from the death box. I peruse the shop, there are old scrolls, porcelain, gems, and so many other things I never saw before all with an exorbitant price tag. It was fun to walk around and discover a new treasure, as I’m wandering aimlessly, I‘m hit with a bolt of lightning, and I immediately identify why I needed to find this place. There lying sheathed in black fabric is an old amethyst ring and not just any ring but the one I saw on my finger in that same memory or was it a dream. Doesn’t matter what it was because I saw this ring somewhere else. This was what Eset was trying to take in the dream that showed me this place.

“Sorry about that, how can I help you…Holy shit! You here for the ring!” Someone sputters.

When I turn around, a tall man stands in front of me. He has a darker complexion and facial hair. He gives off a sophisticated air, not like someone that would be working in an antique shop, but just like with the ring, I could sense something from him. I’m intrigued by this turn of events.

“ Sorry yes, I would like to try it on.” I retort.

Why’s he smiling? Is he that excited about making a sale? He turns around and walks out of the room. When he returns he’s holding a key, as he moves past me toward the case holding the ring, For a moment I feel a sense of déjà vu! It’s the same feeling I get when I see Eset or even that bastard Seth. The exhilaration I experience over finding another person I once knew is indescribable.  He unlocks the case and holds the ring out to me. Instantly, as I wrap my fingers around the ring I get a sensation of peace. A weight is lifted, I no longer sense fear or uncertainty. All the frustration that has stuck with me throughout my life vanishes and I can finally catch my breath. I move to place the ring on my finger. With a rapid rush missing pieces start to fill in. Although the puzzle is jumbled all the lost pieces materialize and the impression of being separated is gone. The ring is weightless and rests comfortably finally in its rightful place.

“This ring was found near an ancient tamarisk tree off the cuff of The Nile.” The man asserts.

The ring is entrancing it draws the eye, it has an oval amethyst gem encrusted in a thick shiny yellow-gold band. No matter how mesmerizing of a ring it is, its looks are not what have me absorbed . This ring is special for the touch of totality that reverberates around me as it rests on my finger.

“Perfect fit, I think this ring found its true owner.” The man persuades.

Amusing, I wonder if that’s some sales tactic, I didn’t care he was right. I was here for this ring and I was not leaving without it, but I also wanted to know more about my sales guy. Not that he needed to know that.

“Haha! Seriously what a clever sales tactic! It’s quite amusing, but wasn’t the ring adjusted to the average male size?” I proclaim.

He sends me a sly grin, as he heads my way.

“A sales tactic!” He laughs.  “I guess you could say that, but it was really just an observation, and we do not resize the jewelry. Alterations are not allowed as each item was discovered not created.” He declares.

Well, that made sense, they did market antiques after all. This was irritating. I’m not learning shit about this guy or how I know him. Just when I’m about to start a new conversation, someone peeks their head out from the back wall. I can’t see who it is, although I assume it’s a female from the persons stature.

“Hey Asten, I need to leave, will you be around later?” She asks.

The voice is melodic and captures my attention immediately , I’m flabbergasted. How can someone make such a beautiful seductive sound? I could listen to this woman speak forever. She makes me think of Eset, with her alluring presence. I wonder what kind of relationship she and Asten has, was Asten the guy helping me with the sales of the ring?

“Damn girl, glad you’re ok! I’m with a customer now, but yeah I’ll be around later” The man helping me replies.

She demurely bows her head turns and we both watch her as she leaves. After a few seconds he turns back to me. I stand there in a daze still staring in the direction she disappeared from. When I glance up he is  mischievously grinning at me.

“So, are you interested in the ring, or… something else maybe!” He quips as he stares in the same direction I was caught looking.

I could hear the laughter in his voice, it was obvious what he was referring to. I try to play it off though, or at least I hope I do.

“The ring obviously, but did I interrupt your time with your girlfriend or wife? Or was she the owner?” I inquire.

“Haha! Oh, don’t worry she’s not my wife or girlfriend. She’s not the owner either and you’re talking to the owner. Asten retorts.

I look up in disbelief; he winks and treads to the hall laughing the whole time. I’m not sure what else to do but follow him. He knew I was buying the ring so no use in pretending otherwise.

“So, you’re the owner, that’s cool, but you look more like a CEO than the owner of an antique shop.” I state.

I knew I was pressing him, and he was more than likely getting frustrated, but I didn’t care. I needed him to explain to me who he was.

“It amuses me to see you like this, I have to admit. Also, one can look good and not be the CEO of some big corporation. I dug up the majority of these antiques myself during excavation so not only am I the owner, but I also have one of the coolest jobs. Now is the ring all you are looking for, or did anything else catch your eye?” He questions. He laughs so I know what he is implying. I don’t want to deny his speculation so I leave it alone and hand over one of the cards in my wallet instead.

“Ok, so just the ring, for now. I guess I will see you again then.” He grins.

I contemplate asking him if it’s normal to sell a person, and if so let him know that I don’t know what the girl looks like. I shrug it off, deciding against it, not wanting to give him more ammunition.

“No, just the ring. Thank you.” I press.

He laughs again “Ok, well I’m Asten, here is my business card. I am sure I will see you again soon. I hope the ring continues to bring you good fortune!” He narrates with a smile and walks away.

“Thank you Asten, it was good meeting you. I will cherish the ring always. And yes, I think we will meet again too.” I yell.

As I walk to the door I peek back, I was worried about coming here after what I went through this morning. That sense of suffocating scared me. I’m grateful I was brought to this  ring and for meeting Asten who acted very comfortably around me. I turn the corner moving towards my car.