Paling Into Insignificance

The excitement of the first engagement in a group of young friends

This was written in response to the prompt 'jewellery', and is the partner to a piece of prose ("Jewellery" ) written for the same prompt.

***

Beams of crystal light
reflect from within the gem
as she holds her bright fingers up
to the sun.

We crowd round, admiring
the ‘rock’ on her third finger;
giggling as the first among us
displays her new ownership.

He watches, proud, from the sidelines:
her fiancé, young and tall.
We all swoon, wishing he was ours,
and the ring pales next to them.

One day in the future
when the rings are brighter than us,
then we’ll think back and laugh
at our childish naiveté.

And turn to our partners,
where they still exist,
holding each other as we fade
into our own history.