Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the pawn shop hummed, blurring at the edges. Amelia blinked, the harsh glare stinging her eyes. She’d been wandering for hours, or maybe days; time felt like a liquid, constantly shifting. Everything felt out of sync. She focused on the glass counter, a kaleidoscope of glittering objects. Her gaze snagged on a familiar sparkle. A delicate filigree ring, the gold tarnished slightly. It couldn’t be.

Her breath hitched. She reached for the ring, her hand trembling. The shopkeeper, a man with a perpetually bored expression, watched her. She stammered, “Excuse me… could I… look at this?” Her voice sounded distant, as if coming from another room.

He slid the case open, the sound echoing strangely in the sudden quiet. She picked up the ring, her fingers tracing the intricate patterns. A wave of nausea washed over her. The setting, a tiny, chipped sapphire, was unmistakable. It was Grandma Elsie’s. How could it be here?