A Pause Between Words
The reply fit on a scrap of paper. The woman had rewritten it eleven times.
She had come to Pedlar’s Attic with the note folded in her coat pocket and a simple question she could not seem to answer simply. Someone had asked her to make a decision. She cared about the person waiting for it, and she did not want to offer certainty she did not feel.
Near the crystal shelf, a silver feather ring caught the warm light. The feather’s fine lines ran along the band, neat and quiet, with no stone to distract from its shape.
“Is it all right to wear this if I don’t know how to pray?” the woman asked.
Chelle did not rush to fill the silence. “The monks made it while they were praying,” she said. “What you carry when you wear it is yours.”
The woman looked down at the folded note. “I thought it might be wrong to keep something made for prayer if I didn’t have the right words.”
“You don’t have to borrow anyone else’s words.”
She lifted the ring. The sterling silver was cool against her palm, precise and lighter than it looked. She tried it on, then turned her hand once beneath the amber lamp. The feather did not answer her question. It did not tell her what to write, or make the choice for her.
That, unexpectedly, helped.
She unfolded the note. The first sentence she had written was still there beneath the crossed-out lines: I need a little more time before I can answer.
She read it again. It was honest. It was kind. It was enough for tonight.
She folded the paper once, carefully, and put it back in her pocket. The ring was not a promise that everything would work out. It was simply a small, chosen reminder that a pause could belong to the answer too.
When she left the Attic, the question was still waiting. But she no longer mistook a quick answer for a better one.
More from the Attic
- The Hands That Were Already Praying, Chelle’s first visit to the unnamed monastery.
- The Bead at the Low Threshold, a companion story from the High Monastery.
- The Mountain That Touches the Face of God, the monastery’s deeper canon.
At Pedlar’s Attic, some things are made in prayer. How you carry them is still your own.
About This Piece
What it is: Angel Feather style ring in 925 sterling silver, from the High Monastery.
Sizes: 6, 7, 8, and 9.
Care: Polish with a soft cloth. Avoid prolonged exposure to water and chemicals.
Character lead: Chelle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Angel Wing ring made of?
It is made of 925 sterling silver.
Which sizes are available?
The ring is available in sizes 6, 7, 8, and 9.
Is the ring only for prayer?
No single use is required. It may be worn for prayer, as fashion, or as a personal object to hold close.
How should I care for the ring?
Polish it with a soft cloth and avoid prolonged exposure to water and chemicals.
What will you find? Angel Wing — 925 Sterling Silver Feather Ring from the High Monastery