A simple black ring lays at the center of the rosewood table. Only the soft light of a desk lamp illuminates the empty area around it, like a spontaneous crown of light. Several fountain pens, a few heavy folders, some scattered documents and a quiet smartphone surround the place that has been cleared for the dark piece of jewelry. It appears a little out of place on the reddish, black-streaked surface of the polished wood, as if it has been put there to attract the eye purposefully. Or maybe as a reminder.

The harmony of the room seems a little broken by its presence at first, until a lean figure walks over and picks it up. Their moves are gentle and full of an ease that hints at years of experience; of habit and of care. When they slide it up their middle finger a second later, after making sure it has not been spoiled throughout the night, it finally looks like it’s where it really belongs.

Next to a large window, the television is and murmurs the morning news into the quiet drawing-room. The dim light of the expensive device is drowned by the bright sunshine that flows in through the open curtains, and it only manages to steal attention when a flash of bright colors appears on the screen unexpectedly. A string of clever, complex words streams out of the speakers and fills the silence, volume put low but loud enough so it can be heard.

“In a world where soulmates and matches are now a conviction and a truth,” the monotonous voice