Gemotions

He hated asking for anything. The shame burned in his gut, a familiar companion. He felt a pervasive sense of inadequacy, relying on his sister’s help ever since the accident. He entered the dimly lit pawn shop, his shoulders hunched.

He saw the ring instantly. His grandmother’s, with the distinctive sapphire. It was the only tangible link he had left to her. The thought of it being lost forever filled him with a cold dread. He imagined her disappointment, and the weight of that thought was heavy.

The shop owner, an older woman with kind eyes, named the price. He haggled, his voice trembling slightly. Taking the ring, he felt a spark of something, a defiance. He held it tightly, feeling as if it might give him the strength to stand on his own.