Gemotions

The relentless tick of the grandfather clock in the pawn shop seemed to amplify the pounding in Mark's chest. He had made a colossal mistake, and now he was facing the consequences. Bankruptcy loomed. His life was crumbling around him.

He searched the cases, his gaze darting from object to object. The ring, his grandmother’s engagement ring, gleamed under the harsh lighting. He stared at it, his throat constricting. He’d promised to keep it safe. The guilt was a physical weight.

“Can I see that one?” he managed, his voice cracking. He gestured towards the ring. The shopkeeper, a burly man with a bored expression, retrieved it and placed it on the counter. Mark knew he couldn’t afford it; he knew what he had to do.