<12/04/2017 - 18:33 | 1010 Link Street, Marietta, GA, USA>

What is it that makes diamonds, gemstones, and opals so beautiful? From every angle, these wonderful gems shine and reflect light, twinkling with the movement of viewing angles, tempting us to wear them on our finger or our neck, to bedazzle everyone else who may gaze on their radiance.

"They're so pretty. I wish I could have them all."

Shiny jewelry; that appears to be the theme of this moment. It's easy to imagine why. Haven't you ever walked into a jewelry store, stood at their glass display cases, and wished you could just walk away with all of it? There's a richness and luxurious aspect to gems that would never be found in modern currency, silver, or gold. Shiny jewelry is beautiful and amazing in its own right. It's the kind of luxury that exhibits its own brilliance.

"Me too... Too bad I can't afford even one of them." I had to be real with Lumina here, before she got any funny ideas. It turns out she likes to look at jewelry as much as I do. She understands the beautiful aspects of jewels and stones. In the window-shopping state of any jeweler, or on the Gem Shopping Network, Lumina and I can appreciate their beauty without having to buy them. It still would be nice to afford one though.

"Most people couldn't walk into a place like that and take what they want." She's right and she knows it. Jewelers often overprice their own gemstones to outrageous levels to make up the cost of their sales, and their marketers cram the idea down us all that these gemstones are at least expected in some form for wedding gifts or marriage proposals. I'm not going to be fooled. I didn't need a cute compressed rock to propose to my wife when I did, only heart and soul. If anyone were too poor to propose and wanted to use a fired onion ring instead, I wouldn't blame them. That money is better spent to something a little more useful than a static gemstone; even a wardrobe upgrade.

"The ones with cyan colors are the ones I like the most." I was looking at one right now, through the Gem Shopping Network, as Lumina and I had little else to do today besides sitting on each other's beds.

"You only say that because it's the same color of my eyes."

"Yeah, that color reminds me of you."

"You realize all Altiri have the same eye color system, right?"

"But only you have your special eyes, Lumina. If they're yours, it's even better." Lumina held back a chuckle, and I could tell I was going into lovey-dovey dreamy mode.

How could I not? Anything and everything related to Lumina is so amazing, so beautiful, worth more than every diamond in the world. After all these years, I'm still madly in love with her.

"Only you would say that."

"What makes you think that? Ask anyone else in your world if they love your eyes, and I'm sure they would say yes."

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"Based on what exactly?"

"Based on that cute smile you're doing right now. Makes your eyes even prettier." I can tell my words took her for a mild surprise, well worth having too. She's usually happy when she's with me, and I've grown to learn when she's having this much fun.

"... I 'm glad you're learning how to flirt better."

"Heh! Isn't it more fun this way? Just you and me, watching our show. Reminds me of when I took you to the Outlet Mall properly."

"How is it that someone, as oblivious as you used to be, became so elegant and refined? I mean it; you've gotten much better at this dating thing."

"Your answer lies in that mirror of yours. I had no choice but to learn all of this on my own, but you were my best motivation for it all Lumina. I figured out all the fun things for us to do together, and I can keep thinking of more to make you happy."

"It's already working. Keep say these amazing things. Keep me happy longer."

"I'm running out of steamy essence over here. I can't keep it up forever you know. Eventually I'll slip up and say something too cringy to wipe from our minds, by accident of course."

"Even better. It would be funny if you got all nervous and said something humiliating, more amazing if other people heard it."

"Right, I forgot. You like to humiliate me. My embarrassment is your happiness." On this I know I'm not wrong. What's crazy is that I've grown accustomed to this side of her, maybe I'm even enjoying humiliating myself too, all to see her smile or laugh.

"Oh, you know we both enjoy it."

"I guess I'll have to forget buying you a beautiful gem."

"Nice try. I've seen the abyss of your wallet. At this rate, burglary is your only chance to nab one."

"Don't get any funny ideas." I know she's only kidding, but to be real, if Lumina ever tried to coax me into being a street criminal, I might actually do it just for her, especially if she cosplays in a black jumpsuit.

"Guess we'll just have to watch them on TV, huh?"

Not wrong, but there's nothing I can do about it. I'm only on my second job and still being paid a really low wage. Working sucks! "Imagine all the bracelets, necklaces, and rings you could craft out of that."

"I might like the rings most."

"Same here." I had to think about what I said though, since I've been struggling to wear any kind of jewelry. Around my neck or my finger, it's too uncomfortable, and don't even get me started about this new phobia I have of anything being around my wrist. If I had any jewelry like that in real life, designed to be worn on the body, I'd be screwed.

"Hypothetical question. If you had all the money in the world, would you buy me all of those gems?"

"With all the money in the world, I'd buy you the whole world."

"That would be nice."

"Yeah..." There's a reason I try not to think about it though. Sure, it's fun to glance at incredible mansions and hotrods I could never afford, but at the same time, it only makes me jealous of those who have them; and not because of jealousy alone, but because I'm missing the very possibility to ever reach the level of a billionaire elite. The fact that I'm too poor for it to be possible is what's unfair; I'd put in the hard effort if I knew I would get there...

But the Rat Race is what it is for a reason; to keep the poor poorer, while the rich keep getting richer. I'm not a sucker for tricks, and brainwashing doesn't work on me. There must be another way to get to where I need to be, while focusing on priority number one. I'm not going to do it the hard way, nor am I going to give up. That said, I've had about enough of the thought. "Yeah, I could watch this all night. However, want to see what else is on?"

"Sure."

Just like that, I cycled through more channels, hoping to find us both a fun movie we could watch. I knew this would be an easy and slow night, but it's just as much fun anyway. This is my ideal night.