A teen girl tried to steal a book from our store

she loved. “She tried to steal a book. Said it was her mom’s favorite. She wanted to leave it on her grave. I paid for it. She gave me this in return.”

Silence stretches between us, thick and uneasy. The air in the room feels different now, charged, like something invisible is unfolding.

The interviewer exhales slowly, her gaze still fixed on the brooch.continue reading …