Gemotions

The tiny, cluttered space suddenly felt suffocating. Sarah pressed her back against the wall, trying to create distance between herself and the glittering display case. The ring. It was unmistakable. The ruby, the setting, everything was exactly as she remembered. She felt a wave of nausea wash over her.

“Anything I can help you with, miss?” The shopkeeper’s words echoed in her ears, each syllable a hammer blow. Her vision blurred, and she struggled to maintain her composure.

“No, no, thank you,” she managed, her voice barely audible. She wanted to run, to flee this place and the unsettling feeling that had taken hold of her. She took a step back, then another, backing towards the door.