Gemotions

The humid air of the pawn shop hung heavy, thick with the scent of dust and forgotten things. Elias, however, breathed it in deep, a smile playing on his lips. His fingers drummed a rapid tattoo against the dusty display case. He had found it. The ruby glinted, a splash of fiery color in the gloom. He needed to have it.

He practically leaped across the counter, his voice a bright, sharp sound. “How much for the ring?” The pawnbroker, a man with eyes that had seen too much, barely glanced up.

Elias barely heard the price. He was already pulling out his wallet, the bills practically leaping from his grasp. His heart hammered a fast, frantic rhythm against his ribs. He imagined his grandmother's face, the joy, the surprise. He just had to get it home.