Gemotions

He felt a sudden constriction in his chest, a tightness that made it hard to breathe. David stared. There, glittering beneath the harsh fluorescent lights, sat the ring. His grandfather’s ring, the one his grandmother had worn faithfully for over fifty years. He was sure it was the same one, a distinctive sapphire surrounded by tiny diamonds.

“Whoa there,” the proprietor said from behind the glass. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” His words felt like a physical blow. David gripped the edge of the counter, his knuckles white.

“I… I need to see it,” he croaked out, his voice a shaky whisper. The blood seemed to drain from his face. He felt exposed, as if everyone in the shop could sense his unease.