Gemotions

My throat closed. My stomach lurched. The ring. Grandmother's ring. It wasn't possible. It *couldn't* be. I felt my face flush, a burning sensation spreading across my cheeks. My hands went cold, clammy. I stared at it, frozen.

The shop owner leaned over, his eyes narrowed. He looked like a vulture, circling his prey.

“Something wrong, lady?” he rasped.

My lips were numb. I wanted to tell him to go to hell. I wanted to tear the shop apart. Instead, I forced out a single, strangled word. “Mine.”