Gemotions

The musty smell of the pawn shop always triggered a sense of unease in her. Everything felt uncertain these days. She'd been crashing with friends, jumping from job to job. A constant need for others' help. The ring, her grandmother's engagement ring, was the last thread to a more secure time.

She spotted it immediately. It seemed to shine even in the dim light. She approached the counter, the floorboards groaning under her weight. The shopkeeper, a man with a bored expression, looked at her with a knowing glance. She felt a familiar knot of anxiety tighten in her stomach.

“What’s it worth?” she managed to croak. When she saw the ring on her hand, a small glimmer of purpose sparked within her. She'd feel less dependent on her life, with this precious item back in her possession.