Gemotions

The ornate silver tea set, glittering under the harsh fluorescent lights of the appraisal room, felt like a betrayal. His brother, eager to cash in, had been babbling about its value. He found his teeth grinding together. He wanted to punch something.

He remained silent, his jaw clenched, as the appraiser ran his hands over the delicate curves. The cool metal seemed to mock him. Each word uttered was a fresh irritant. He felt a pressure building in his head, a dull throb behind his eyes.

He couldn't stand to hear any more of their talk. He wanted to stop the conversation, to snatch the pieces back and leave, to escape this scene of avarice. The injustice of it all felt heavy in his chest. He felt like he was suffocating.