Gemotions

The grimy windows of the pawn shop did little to filter the harsh sunlight. Sarah stood in the doorway, momentarily paralyzed by the oppressive atmosphere, before stepping inside. Another day, another futile endeavor.

She wandered aimlessly through the aisles, the items on display a parade of broken dreams. The air felt heavy, stagnant. Then, something. A ring, sparkling in the dim light. She recognized the intricate filigree and the single, central sapphire. Her grandmother’s.

She felt a wave of emptiness flood over her. The shop owner, a man whose face seemed permanently etched with cynicism, named a price. He held up the ring. She nodded, her throat constricted. She was already reaching for her purse.