The shade is derived from copper carbonate. 
   The stone’s layers bubble and inflate, forever expanding.
   My favourite stone. A green protector.
   I bought a malachite ring at 19 and have worn it almost every day since.

   My mother was the executor of my great aunt’s will.
   My grandmother's baby sister, she was the closest thing I had to a grandparent. 
   I didn’t even realize until she was gone.
   When she died, we sorted through her jewelry, my mother let my cousin and I pick a few pieces.
   I saw a bent and tarnished ring with a semi-precious stone among all the gold and diamonds. 
   I asked if I could have it, and my mom replied “why would you want that?”

   I knew if she kept it, it must be sentimental. 
   Bought abroad on one of her stays in Israel or Haiti where she worked as a nurse in younger years. 
   I reshaped it with pliers, cleaned and polished it.
   The stone is chipped, like most of her jewelry was. 
   I didn’t care.

   It fits on my middle finger, next to my own malachite piece on my ring finger.
   How funny, that decades apart I would buy an almost identical ring to hers without even knowing.