Gemotions

The pawn shop was nearly empty, save for a lone customer hunched over a display case. Emily found the silence oppressive, a stark contrast to the cacophony of emotions churning within her. Her pulse hammered against her wrists. She had come to the shop out of a sense of obligation.

She saw the ring, gleaming under the harsh light. Her grandmother’s ring, sold off after the divorce. The ring she was supposed to inherit. The resentment bubbled to the surface, a bitter taste on her tongue.

“I’m interested in that ring,” she said, her voice brittle. She felt a sudden, overwhelming urge to shatter something.