Eric Smith and the Ring: Not Alone Anymore

Eric took a step backward from the counter to go find one of the lab stools. But as he did, he tripped and fell into something soft. He looked down and found he was sitting in a new plush arm-chair. *This is new,* he thought. *Someone must have brought it in when I was spaced out.* The thought gave him pause, though. Nobody would have brought it in. He was alone. Then, suddenly, he heard giggling. He stood up from the chair and looked towards the door. "Hello?" he asked. "Is someone there?" Was he losing his mind? Maybe all of this isolation really *was* getting to him. But then the door opened and a young woman walked in, carrying a bottle of wine and two glasses. "Oh, Eric," she said, smiling. "This is the find of the century, maybe even the *millennium*. That ring is ancient, as old as ..." She paused. "Eric? Are you okay?" "Who are you?" "Who am I? Eric, what kind of question is that?" "Just answer me," he said.