Gemotions

The harsh glare from the shop's overhead lights seemed to amplify the imperfections of everything on display. The ring, her mother’s wedding band, looked especially vulnerable. It sat alongside cheap costume jewelry, as if it were of no more value than a dollar store trinket. Emily felt a profound sense of humiliation at the thought.

She clenched her jaw, her nails digging into her palms. She had to buy it, but she couldn’t bear the thought of haggling, of admitting her connection to it. "How much…?" she managed, her voice barely above a whisper, her cheeks burning.