We finally decided to pick them up, one by one, holding our breath as if they might crumble or reveal something awful. They were cold, smooth, strangely comforting in the palm. A quick search online turned panic into surprise: black tourmaline, a natural crystal many people keep close for protection, to ward off “bad energy” and bring emotional balance.
Suddenly, it all made sense. My grandmother, who never spoke much about her fears, had quietly tucked her worries beneath her pillow, trusting these dark stones to guard her sleep. What had seemed eerie became deeply tender. We didn’t throw them away. Instead, we placed them in a small glass bowl on her nightstand, like a silent continuation of her ritual. Now, whenever we pass that room, the stones are still there, keeping watch for a woman who believed in unseen shields.
