Gemotions

Liam dragged his feet down the cracked sidewalk, each step echoing the hollowness inside him. The city lights blurred through a perpetual haze, making everything seem distant and unreal. He avoided eye contact with passersby, shrinking into the shadows of the doorways. The world felt muffled, as if viewed through thick cotton.

The pawn shop, a haven of forgotten treasures and broken dreams, beckoned him. He had nothing better to do. A single, tarnished ring in a velvet box caught his attention. It was his grandmother’s, he was sure.

He felt the prickle of tears behind his eyes. He slowly approached the counter. “How much?” The question sounded detached, as if he were speaking about someone else's misfortune.