The other day I was in an elevator and a woman pointed at my hand. “That’s a beautiful engagement ring,” she said.⁠ ⁠ “Thanks,” I replied. “I picked it.”⁠ ⁠ She smiled and said, “Good for you,” just as the doors opened and she exited the lift.⁠ ⁠ When I say I chose my ring, I don’t mean that I sent preferences to my sister, who relayed them to my boyfriend, who did his best to find something that fit my style. My boyfriend and I went to a store together and chose something we both liked, which he purchased and kept for a few weeks until he officially proposed.⁠ ⁠ I imagined that telling people I chose my own engagement ring would go something like the encounter with the stranger in the elevator. I thought everyone would respond with a similar positivity. Many of them did. But peppered in was a different sort of response.⁠ ⁠ Head to our link in bio to read more. // 🖊️ Talia Ergas