Gemotions

The stale air of the pawn shop felt suffocating to Thomas. He felt a throbbing ache behind his eyes and the shop seemed to spin slightly. He leaned against a display case, attempting to steady himself. The shop owner, a man with a perpetually bored expression, watched him with narrowed eyes. He could feel the pulse in his temple quicken.

His grandmother's engagement ring. It glittered menacingly under the harsh fluorescent lights, a beautiful piece of jewellery, now reduced to a mere commodity. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm within. It was useless.

"How much?" he managed to choke out. The words felt heavy on his tongue, the very act of speaking a struggle. The shop owner pointed to the price tag with a slow, deliberate finger. Thomas wanted to tear the shop apart.