Gemotions

The stale smell of the pawn shop did little to lift Daniel’s mood. Another week, another dead end. He felt listless, aimless. He was about to leave when a glint of gold caught his eye. It was a ring, set with a delicate pearl, and he felt his heart begin to throb.

It was his grandmother's. The one she’d received from her beloved husband during the war. He could almost feel the phantom weight of it on his own finger. The ring was a talisman of their enduring love, a love that defined them. It had to be gotten.

He didn't have much, but he would find a way. He asked the proprietor, his voice low, his heart pounding in his chest. The price was steep, but he knew what he had to do. He would go without, he would sacrifice. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the task ahead.