True feelings are not the same as they were in the past.
Chapter 1
I’m Sarah, the infamous owner of Whispers &
Wishes, a pawn shop on the edge of town.
We deal in desires, trading tangible items for
the intangible yearnings of the heart.
One night, just before closing, I had a peculiar
customer.
My husband, David.
Hidden behind the velvet curtain, I activated
the voice modulator. “What do you wish to
pawn?”
He placed a photograph on the counter,
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pointing to the woman in the frame.
“I want her sight restored.”
He then slammed my ultrasound picture next
to it.
“I pawn the three–month–old fetus my wife is
carrying.”
I stared at the photo. The woman was his
childhood sweetheart, his recently widowed
sister–in–law.
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My mind went blank. I just stared.
This baby, growing inside me, was something
David and I had longed for, for three years.
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And now, for another woman, he was willing
to give our child away.
A sharp pain stabbed at my heart.
Impatient with my silence, David’s voice grew
edgy. “Isn’t that enough?”
He frowned, tapping his fingers on the
counter.
“Fine. I’ll add my wife’s memories of me. Is
that sufficient?”
I froze, a dull ache spreading through my
chest.
Fighting back tears, I forced myself to speak.
“For another woman, you’re willing to give up
your child and your wife’s memories?”
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“Yes. I have no choice. Besides… she won’t
blame me. I’ll spend the rest of my life making
it up to her.”
His words were like daggers to my soul.
Seeing my hesitation, he added quickly, “I
know the rules here. She’s willing to give
everything for me, too.”
My fingers, clenched around the ultrasound
picture, turned white.
Suddenly, his recent coldness towards the
baby made sense.
His questions about whether I’d sacrifice
everything for him echoed in my mind.
I had thought it was a test of my love, blurting
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out a heartfelt “Yes!”
Now, I realized it was all a cruel setup.
“Are you doubting the offer?” David snapped. “Or is your reputation as the all–powerful
pawnbroker just a sham?”
I fought back tears, my voice hoarse. “Fine. I’ll
do it.”
“But I’ll ask one last time. Once pawned,
never returned. Are you certain?”
Without hesitation, he nodded. “Anything to
see her eyes open again.”
Grief choked me. I gasped for air.
“Then, within five days, the exchange will be
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complete. Your wife will lose the child, and
her memories of you will fade…”
A flicker of something crossed his face,
quickly replaced with steely resolve. He cut
me off. “I just need to know when Amelia’s
sight will return.”
Bitterness welled up inside me. I steadied my
voice. “Within five days, her sight will
gradually improve, until the exchange is
finalized.”
“Just so you know… If you change your mind.
within those five days, you can come back…”
Even at this point, I clung to a sliver of hope.
“No need,” David said firmly, not a trace of
doubt in his voice.
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My heart turned to ash. I remained silent.
