Daily Flash Fiction Challenge

Billy was a tomboy. Curious. Bright.

Professor Stalwart ran into the cafe, red dust billowing off his crinkled linen pants, making a trail on the cafe floor. Billy was intrigued.

Stalwart picked up his large lunch order and was off like a shot getting in the waiting car. Billy said a quick goodbye to her lunch partner and ran to her car to follow him. Something told her life as she knew it was about to change.

She caught up with the man outside of town at an archaeology dig site and got out of her car as he was passing lunch out to the workers, all of whom looked to be about her age. She caught the attention of the professor, and he walked over to her.

"Hello", he said to her, extending his hand, wiping his hands on his dirty linen pants. "I'm professor Stalwart and you look curious!"

"Hi. I am Billy". "What is this place?"

The professor started telling her he and his team were digging up this site because of potential historic artifacts, and was interrupted by one of his students, yelling, "I've got something! Over here!".

She showed Billy and the professor her find. A ring. Red ruby, and as the professor was wiping the dirt from it, Billy swallowed and said shakily,

"I think I know that ring. It looks like the one in a painting hanging in the office I work at. My boss's grandfather was wearing it, but he disappeared about 30 years ago".

The professor looks at Billy. She gawks back, mouth agape.

“Billy, this ring looks like the one my business partner wore, and he disappeared. About 30 years ago.”

The two looked at each other, their futures now connected.