Gemotions

The bell above the door chimed, a cheerful sound that grated on her nerves. Emily entered the pawn shop, the air inside thick with the smell of old metal and despair. She shuffled through the aisles, each step heavy.

A glint of something familiar pulled her forward. There, nestled amongst the other forgotten treasures, was a familiar sight. A ring. She saw the familiar cluster of tiny diamonds. It was her grandmother's ring.

She reached for it, her fingers brushing the glass. It felt cold, detached. The past, a relentless tide, pulling her back.

The shop owner, a woman with eyes that had seen too much, offered a price. Emily didn't argue. She just reached into her purse, pulled out her wallet, and paid. What else was there to do? The ring was hers now.