Gemotions

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the pawn shop floor, but they couldn't penetrate the gloom that had enveloped him. He was a creature of habit, and coming here was a new one, a desperate attempt to find some semblance of peace. The world felt muffled, the colours muted, as if seen through a veil of despair.

He felt the familiar knot of unease tighten in his gut as he scanned the display case. It was there, nestled amongst the tarnished silver and forgotten watches. The intricate design, the way the light caught the central stone… it was undeniable. He didn’t want to look at it, but he couldn’t look away.

He felt a deep sadness, a wellspring of resentment that he tried to fight down. He took a shaky breath, the air in the shop feeling suddenly thin and hard to breathe. He wanted to scream.