"It's worth a lot more than that and you know it. It's a real diamond, and a pretty big one!" I plead, more a shout; sure that the man behind the counter is trying to scam me. I give him a serious look, arms now crossed in front of me. "Check it out however you want. I'm just asking you to be fair with me."

"Lady, this 'diamond' passed none of the tests and has no inscription number to it. I'm so sorry to tell you this, but this is not a real diamond." He looks at me, a serious look in his face, and I try to look for signs he's lying. But I'm too angry to notice anything. He continues. "As for the ring itself, this is a fourteen karat gold ring. Its purity isn't optimal, and like I said, the diamond on it isn't a real one." He studies me with a bored expression in his face, as if he was offering me a great deal already, pushing the ring forward for me to take back. "That's my last offer. I'm sorry."

I take it with a loud stomp on his counter, put the ring back in my pocket and storm out of the place in a fit of rage; frustration welling in my burning eyes. To hell with this man! I'm sure that Grandma's Lucky Ring is worth at least three times what that guy offered me. And I need the money, okay? But I won't give up on my most precious possession. After all, it's all I have left from my real family; I inherited it from Grandma when she died, back when I was five. Getting rid of it isn't something I would normally consider, but right now I'm desperate.

I'm an unemployed widow struggling to make a living, and this morning I made breakfast with the last remnants in my kitchen. Going back home with empty hands isn't an option; I have to take something home for my daughter Jeanne to eat tonight. Just that thought is enough to turn my sadness into anger, and that anger into motion: I need to keep moving forward. I need to find a way through this. Jeanne isn't going to be fed with my tears.