Gemotions

Sarah’s breath hitched as she pushed open the pawn shop door, the bell above it jingling a cheerful greeting that felt utterly wrong. She hadn’t intended to come in here. She'd been wandering, lost in the city's labyrinthine streets, seeking… she wasn’t sure what. A distraction, maybe. The air inside was thick with the scent of old metal and forgotten things. Her stomach felt like a tightly clenched fist.

Her eyes landed on a glint of light in the jewelry display. She moved closer, drawn by an invisible force. There it was. Her grandmother's ring. The distinctive emerald cut stone, the delicate platinum band. She felt the blood drain from her face. She closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them again, as if willing the image to disappear. It remained.

“Can I help you, miss?” The shop owner's voice cut through the silence. She jumped, her heart hammering against her ribs. She needed to leave. Now. But her feet wouldn't move.