Gemotions

“This ring… this ring meant everything to me,” Grandma Alice sniffled, her voice catching in her throat. John shifted from one foot to the other, the polished floor cold beneath his socks. He’d already heard the story of the ring a dozen times, each telling filled with more detail than the last. He fiddled with the zipper on his jacket, making a small, repetitive noise.

Outside, the streetlights were beginning to flicker on. He had a date, a good one, and he was already late. The delay was making him feel antsy, trapped.

He swallowed hard. "Grandma, I understand. But the sale… it’s going to help with everything."