Gemotions

I walked into the shop, the bell above the door jingling like a death knell. My throat felt thick, and the air in the place was heavy, stagnant. It was a suffocating feeling, like being underwater. I searched the cases, a strange mix of dread and anticipation churning in my stomach.

Then, there it was. The ring. My grandmother’s ring. I felt a sudden, sharp pang in my chest, a physical manifestation of the crushing sorrow that had been my constant companion since he left. It was a tangible piece of her, a symbol of everything that was lost. I had to have it, had to reclaim it from this bleak place.

“How much?” I managed, the words a hoarse whisper. The shopkeeper just stared at me.