Gemotions

David stood stiffly, his shoulders rigid. His entire body felt as if it was composed of concrete. The ring, its familiar beauty now tarnished by its surroundings, taunted him from its display case. The pawn shop’s stale air and the oppressive silence amplified the frustration bubbling inside him.

He thought of his grandfather, the man who had given his grandmother the ring, and the sacrifices he had made. The betrayal of finding it here, of knowing how it had ended up here, was unbearable. He needed to scream.

He approached the counter, his steps heavy. "I want that ring, now," he said through gritted teeth, his voice a low growl, his eyes narrowed.