Gemotions

The air in the pawn shop felt thick, heavy with the scent of old metal and forgotten hopes. Amelia's breath hitched as she stared at the ring. It was her grandmother's, the one she'd inherited after her passing. She'd given it away to a charity shop after struggling to find any use for it. How it got here was a mystery that weighed her down.

She felt a wave of disorientation wash over her, a strange disquiet that made her feel as though the world was slightly off-kilter. She found herself reaching for the glass, wanting to touch it, to reassure herself it was real. Her heart thudded a frantic rhythm against her ribs.

“Thinking of buying it?” The shop owner's voice cut through her thoughts. She jumped, startled. “It’s a beauty, isn’t it?”