Gemotions

The bell above the pawn shop door jingled, a sound that grated on Clara’s nerves. She hated the chipped paint, the dusty shelves, the feeling of being judged by every object she passed. It always felt like a judgement on her. She had been here before, seeking things she needed to forget about. Today, she sought something to remind her.

She scanned the jewelry counter with a careful, almost predatory gaze. The space seemed to contract around her. There it was: her grandmother’s ring. She felt a knot tighten in her stomach. The ring should have been hers, passed down with love, not traded for something cheap and temporary.

"What's the price on that diamond ring?" she asked the shop owner, her tone sharp. She felt a burning in the back of her throat.