Gemotions

The street outside was a symphony of horns and sirens, but inside the pawn shop, the silence was deafening. Ethan had walked these streets a thousand times, each step now a laborious effort. He felt like a hollow shell, echoing with the absence of her laughter, of her presence. The world was flat, the colors muted.

He spotted it immediately. A flash of familiar brilliance, a beacon in the cluttered darkness. Her ring. His grandmother’s ring. He’d seen it on her hand a thousand times, felt it when she hugged him. The shop felt like a predator, waiting to pounce on his weakness. He held his breath, fearing the inevitable.

He had to get it back. Had to. He forced himself to walk closer, his legs heavy, his mind racing. The shopkeeper looked up, his eyes cold and calculating.