Gemotions

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the dusty floor of the pawn shop. Laura squinted, her teeth grinding together. This whole thing was ridiculous. Her sister's relentless pressure, the constant reminders, had driven her here. She felt a knot tighten in her stomach.

She ignored the shop owner's greeting, instead focusing on the cluttered display cases. "Rings," she said to herself, under her breath, turning her back to the clerk. She didn’t want to answer questions.

She started at the furthest end of the case, moving slowly. She didn't want to get her hopes up. She wasn't going to let this place get to her, no matter what.