Gemotions

The air was heavy, thick with a sadness that clung to him like a shroud. The simplest tasks felt monumental, the easiest decisions overwhelming. The pawn shop, with its jumble of forgotten treasures, seemed like the perfect place to hide.

The ring. Her grandmother's ring. He’d recognized it instantly. The delicate silver filigree, the single, perfect pearl. He had remembered the ring. He remembered the feel of her hand in his. A wave of heat washed over him and he felt the sting of tears.

He had no money. The shopkeeper, a woman with a weary face, was watching him. He shook his head, unable to speak. He didn't need to speak. She knew.