Gemotions

The relentless hum of the air conditioning unit in the pawn shop seemed to amplify the frustration swirling inside Leo. He'd been searching for a vintage record player for his girlfriend's birthday all afternoon, and the shops he'd visited had been nothing but a disappointment. He just wanted to get this over with.

Then he saw it, a glint of gold catching his eye. The ring. His grandmother's ring. The one that had disappeared from her jewelry box. He felt the muscles in his jaw tense. “How much for that ring?” he asked, his voice barely a whisper. The shop owner, a large man with a vacant stare, slowly turned toward him.