Gemotions

He paced the cramped apartment, his shadow stretching and shrinking on the wall. The memory of the ring, shimmering under the shop's stark lights, kept replaying in his mind like a bad film. His palms were slick with sweat. He kept running his hands through his hair, tugging at the strands.

He'd gone over the details a hundred times. The engraving inside the band, the way the light caught the facets of the diamond. He had recognized it instantly. He knew. His chest felt constricted.

He considered calling his mother, but the thought made him want to bolt. He grabbed his keys, then paused, his hand hovering over the doorknob. He was so unsteady, like a ship caught in a storm. He turned and slammed the door shut, then spun around, his back against the wood, and slid down to the floor. He needed air.