Rick was walking through the mall. He was a bit depressed since his girlfriend had dumped him yesterday and he had seen her with some nineteen year old kid today. He knew he weren't that much of a catch but you didn't think that kid was much of a catch either. The only thing that it seemed he had going for him was he was younger than he was. He shook his head sadly for what seemed like the hundredth time. Maybe it was also the fact that he lived with his parents. What else could he do though? His dad was considered disabled so he couldn't work and his mom was out of work for the moment. So his checks went to pay for most of the household expenses.
He noticed a new store called "Helpful Things". He noticed that no one was going in to or coming out of the store. In fact it looked like people just didn't notice it. He shrugged and went in. Inside it seemed bigger than it was on the outside. It was filled with shelves that had all sorts of stuff on them. An old man came up to him and said "Welcome to Helpful Things. What troubles you?"
Rick didn't know why but he told the old man "My girlfriend broke up with me yesterday. What makes it worse is I saw her with a nineteen year old kid and they were kissing."
"I have just the thing for you then" the old guy said. "Please follow me." He led Rick to the back of the store. He searched the shelf and pulled a few things off before going "Ah ha!" and pulled a ring from the shelf. Turning back to you he held it out and said "This is what will help you."
Rick looked at it with a skeptical look. He didn't see how a ring would be able to help him. Looking at the old man he said "This is a joke right. This ring can't help me. The ring I'm wearing was suppose to connect me to my higher self to help me in my life but it doesn't work."
"Ah how do you know?" the old man asked. "Perhaps your higher self guided you here to receive this ring which I guarantee will make most of your girlfriend troubles disappear. All you have to do is wear this ring."
"I don't see how it will do that" Rick said with a frown. "Besides it looks like it's a woman's ring. How would I look wearing that?"
"You'll look fine" the old man said still holding the ring out. "Go ahead and take it. It's your's if you want it."
The old man seemed to want Rick to have the ring so he mentally shrugged and took the ring. "How much is it?" he asked.
"No charge" the old man said. "It's a gift from me to you."
Rick thanked him and put the ring in his pocket. He had left the store when he thought he might be able to get something for his parents. Turning around he was stunned to see only a blank wall. This really perplexed him and he started thinking that he was going crazy. He decided to go home before he made a scene in a public place.
At home Rick went down to his room in the basement and pulled stuff out of his pockets like he always did. He pulled out the ring and looked at it. He couldn't tell what metal it was made from or what the pink oval stone was. Around the stone were strange symbols. He started to wonder if it would do what the old man said it would do. Though how did he explain the presence of the ring when it was obvious the store didn't exist. Did someone take advantage of his depression to hypnotize him? Was he really home right now? Why would someone hypnotize him like that? Should he put the ring on and go with what's happening? The ring didn't look like it would fit. Shrugging he decided to put it on wondering what would happen.