Gemotions

The chipped paint and peeling wallpaper of the pawn shop seemed to emphasize the desolation that had settled over Liam. He moved through the world in a blur, each day a gray imitation of the one before. He was searching for something, a reason for being, though he didn't know what it was.

His gaze drifted across the display case, stopping abruptly. A flash of light caught his eye. There, amidst the detritus of forgotten lives, lay a ring. He recognized the distinctive shape of the emerald, the intricate detail in the platinum setting. He knew it belonged to his grandmother.

His breath hitched in his throat. He felt the sting of tears.