Gemotions

He’d come to pawn a watch, a last resort. But then, as he scanned the display case, he saw it. The ring. His grandmother’s. He couldn't move. A cold wave rolled over him, leaving him shivering in the unheated shop.

He forgot about the watch. He forgot about the rent. He forgot everything except the ring, its tiny details burned into his memory. His mind raced, a chaotic jumble of questions and memories.

The proprietor, a woman with a severe expression, watched him intently. “You alright, son?” she asked, her voice sharp. He opened his mouth, but no sound emerged. He just stared at the ring, frozen in place.