Gemotions

The cold, metallic air of the pawn shop seemed to seep into David's bones, mirroring the chill that had settled deep within him. He dragged himself through the door, the bell's chime a jarring interruption to the internal silence he desperately craved. He wanted to disappear, to vanish into the shadows and be unseen.

He felt like a ghost, drifting through a world that no longer interested him. Food tasted like ash, the sun felt like a threat. Even the simple task of getting dressed was a battle.

Then he saw it. The sapphire ring. He recognised the setting, the almost-too-perfect symmetry. It had been his grandfather's gift. It was a tangible piece of a past he could no longer reach. Tears pricked his eyes.

He didn't bother to ask the price; he simply pointed. “That one.”