Gemotions

The air in the pawn shop smelled of dust and forgotten things, but Amelia didn’t mind. She’d been feeling hollow for months. Now, looking at the familiar setting, the familiar shape, her lips curved upwards. It was undeniable. Her Aunt Susan’s ring, missing for years, was here, in this dingy shop.

She walked towards the counter, her steps light. The owner, a man with a thick neck and a wary gaze, eyed her. "Can I help you?" he grunted. She swallowed, pointing at the ring. "I think… I know that one."

He unlocked the case with a metallic click. Amelia took the ring. It felt like a tangible link to a past she'd almost lost. “How much?” she asked, a genuine smile now dancing on her face.