Gemotions

The blinking neon sign outside the pawn shop cast long, distorted shadows across the street, mirroring the fractured state of Liam’s mood. He hated the forced smiles and the platitudes that people offered when things went wrong. The shop’s interior was dim, the air heavy with the ghosts of lost fortunes. He hated this place.

He searched the cases, his gaze narrowed. And there it was, his grandmother’s ring. He’d known it would be here, but that didn’t make it any easier to swallow. He felt a slow burn in his chest, a resentment for everything that had led to this moment.

"How much?" he asked, his voice devoid of all inflection. He almost couldn’t bear to look at the shop owner.