Gemotions

The bell above the door jingled, announcing Eloise's entry. She surveyed the dimly lit shop, a world of forgotten treasures. Then, there. A flash of familiar brilliance, amidst the tarnished silver and chipped porcelain. Her grandmother's ring. A diamond halo, encircling a single, perfect pearl.

A sudden tremor ran through her. Her own engagement ring, a simple band, felt inadequate now. She had planned to buy a more extravagant ring, but her wedding budget was tight. She'd settled for something she found suitable.

She cleared her throat. “May I… see that one?” she asked, her voice cracking slightly. She didn’t know why she was here. She knew she couldn’t afford it.

The shopkeeper, a man with a bored expression, obliged, pulling the ring from the display. Eloise stared, utterly transfixed.