The next morning. Hanna is snoozing lightly on the sofa; Rob is sitting in the chair, examining the crystal.
"I don't see what makes this thing so special," Rob ponders.
Hanna stirs. "My hip feels a lot better, thankyou," she mutters, mildly annoyed.
"It just looks like a ruby to me," Rob continues. "It's not even that well cut; there are flaws throughout the entire stone."
"Hmm, the joint has stiffened up overnight," Hanna growls, the discomfort of pulling herself up to lean on the arm clear in her expression.
"I doubt it'd even fetch enough money for three months, let alone a full year, though it'd still be worth it." Rob feels Hanna's violent stare without having to look. "Don't worry, I'm not going to try to persuade you to sell it. It was very clear last night you want to keep this, though I cannot fathom why."
Hanna's expression softens. "To be honest, I'm not sure I understand why myself." A thoughtful pause. "This may sound strange, but I felt that crystal... calling to me." Another pause; Rob looks sidelong at Hanna, quizzical. "Am I going crazy?"
"Going?"
"Ha ha."
Rob looks back at the crystal. "I've known you for a long time, yet you're still able to surprise me." He tosses the crystal towards Hanna, but the throw falls short. Hanna lunges and catches it, but in doing so she rolls off the sofa, landing on the floor with a loud yelp, jarring her injured hip.
"You did that on purpose," she growls, seething in anger and pain.
"Of course not," Rob responds. After a pause, he admits "Actually, yes I did."
What Hanna says next is unrepeatable.
