Gemotions

The harsh fluorescent glare of the pawn shop made Daniel's head throb. He'd come in seeking a replacement for a lost tool, but his gaze had snagged on something far more personal. There, amidst the detritus of other people's lives, was his grandmother’s engagement ring. He felt a sting in his gut, a sudden, inexplicable anger.

He slammed his fist on the counter, startling the cashier, who was engrossed in a magazine. "What's the story with that ring?" he snapped, his voice tight. The cashier, a young woman with multiple piercings, shrugged and rattled off a price.

Daniel wanted to scream. He wanted to shout about the love, about the loss, about the sacred bond that ring represented. He paid the exorbitant price and left the shop with a cold fury churning inside him. The ring felt heavy in his pocket, a lead weight dragging him down.