Gemotions

The relentless sun beat down on him, but it brought no warmth. Ethan felt chilled to the core. He moved through the day with a sluggishness that bordered on paralysis. He'd lost interest in everything. The vibrant colors of the world seemed faded, the sounds muffled. He was a shell.

He drifted into a pawn shop, the air inside thick with the scent of old things. He wasn't looking for anything, just seeking a momentary distraction from the dull ache inside. Then, he saw it: a ring, a familiar, distinctive setting.

He asked the proprietor, a man whose face was etched with a permanent frown, to see it. He picked it up and saw the inscription: "Forever, With You." He traced the letters with his finger, a knot tightening in his stomach. The realization hit him like a physical blow. It was her ring. How on earth?