Gemotions

The dingy interior of the pawn shop felt like a second skin to Leo. He'd been coming here for weeks, aimlessly browsing, killing time. The shop's gloom mirrored his own. He was a ghost, flitting from one empty day to the next. Then he saw it: the familiar floral design, the emerald that was her birthstone. His grandmother’s ring. He recognized it instantly.

He felt a tightness in his throat. He’d barely spoken to his grandfather since the funeral. The ring, sitting there, felt like a cruel joke. He bought it, the transaction quick and emotionless. He walked out, clutching the ring. The sun was setting, painting the sky in fiery hues, but he felt nothing, neither warmth nor chill. He wondered where he should go. Anywhere, really.