Gemotions

The grime-covered window of the pawn shop offered a warped reflection of Liam. He'd been avoiding the world, his days a blur of numb routine. He entered, the jangle of the door's bell a cruel awakening. His grandmothers ring was there.

He recognized the intricate carvings, the way the light caught the ruby. His breath hitched in his throat. It was a tangible reminder of a past he couldn't grasp. A feeling of profound isolation settled over him, the shop's cluttered atmosphere amplifying the feeling. He felt a hollowness in his chest.

He mumbled the details about the ring to the man behind the counter. The shop owner looked unimpressed. He felt like he couldn't leave without it.