Gemotions

The sunlight sliced through the grimy window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. Michael, hunched and shuffling, barely registered the sudden brightness. The world had lost its colour. Everything seemed dull, faded, like an old photograph. He found himself drawn to the pawn shop, a place where discarded lives seemed to gather.

He hadn't felt like himself for so long. He’d lost interest in everything. His apartment was a mess, his job was a burden, his relationships – a distant echo. The idea of interacting with anyone was exhausting.

He saw the ring immediately. The ruby, still vibrant, caught his eye. It was his grandmother’s. He knew, he just *knew*, even before he saw the familiar engraving inside the band. A cold dread seeped into his bones.

“Can I see that?” he mumbled, the words feeling heavy in his mouth.