Gemotions

He adjusted his tie, tugging at the knot until it felt like it was choking him. The fluorescent lights of the pawn shop hummed, adding to the general sense of unease that had settled in his stomach. He'd rehearsed this conversation in his head a dozen times, each version more disastrous than the last. He wiped his sweaty palms against his jeans.

"Looking for anything in particular, pal?" The shop owner, a burly man with a gold chain thicker than his thumb, squinted at him.

"Uh, possibly… an engagement ring?" He tried to sound casual, breezy, as if he browsed pawn shops for antique jewelry every other Tuesday. He kept his hands in his pockets to avoid fidgeting. The man behind the counter gestured towards a display case with a bored shrug.