Gemotions

The humid air of the pawn shop felt thick on Clara’s skin, but she barely noticed. Her heart was doing a tap dance against her ribs. She recognized it immediately, the delicate filigree, the tiny diamonds twinkling in the fluorescent light. Grandmama’s ring. Found.

A giddy laugh bubbled up her throat. She could picture it now, telling her brother, who had always loved their grandmother the most. He would be ecstatic.

“How much?” she practically squeaked, pointing a trembling finger at the glass case. The pawn shop owner, a man whose face seemed permanently etched in skepticism, just grunted.