Gemotions

Rain lashed against the pawn shop window, mirroring the downpour in Elias's chest. He'd been aimlessly wandering the city since the funeral, a hollow ache residing where his heart used to be. The chipped porcelain dolls in the window blurred, their painted smiles mocking his despair. He almost walked past, but then something – a glint of gold – caught his eye.

The ring. His grandmother’s. He recognized the intricate filigree work, the tiny emerald at its center. It was tucked away in a velvet-lined case, its price tag a cruel reminder of its current worth. He didn't even have enough cash to get a coffee, let alone reclaim a piece of her.

His hands trembled as he pointed to the case. The shopkeeper, a man with a perpetually bored expression, raised a brow. "Want to try it on, or just admiring?" Elias swallowed, his throat tight. He managed a whisper: "I… I just want to look."