Gemotions

David felt a knot tighten in his chest as he walked into the cluttered shop. He took a deep breath, trying to slow his erratic heartbeat. The air hung heavy with the smell of old metal and forgotten hopes.

He had avoided this place, and everything it represented, for months. The ring, gleaming under the harsh fluorescent lights, felt like an accusation. He remembered the arguments, the harsh words, the final, irrevocable break.

He tried to appear interested in a broken music box, but his eyes kept returning to the ring. Each glance felt like a blow. He knew, with a certainty that chilled him to the core, that he was the reason for this.

He cleared his throat. "How much?" His voice sounded hollow.