"I'm giving this back to you. I don't need it anymore."
Alex held out the earring. The tiny, emerald-green jade sat in the middle of his slender, pale palm.
"I have a new job, and I'm moving into the city. The benefits of the new job are very good; I don't need to scavenge for money anymore."
Toby looked down. The youth was tall, his shadow enough to eclipse Alex and cast the boy into darkness. Toby stared at the object in Alex's hand, feeling as though his heart were being squeezed.
Seeing the small figure standing in the shade, his face calm without a trace of regret, Toby clenched his hands helplessly. His nails dug into his palms until it hurt, but the physical pain couldn't drown out the void in his heart.
"Don't just stand there dazed. Take it back." Alex thrust his hand forward a bit more, his voice urging, his gaze resolute.
