Gemotions

The dingy pawn shop felt like a world away from the bright, modern studio where Clara worked. She knew what she wanted. She wasn’t letting anything stop her. She'd come here, on a whim, knowing she'd find what she was looking for.

She spotted it immediately – a delicate filigree ring, shimmering under the harsh fluorescent lights. Her breath hitched. It was the same one her grandmother had described.

Clara walked forward, her footsteps light and purposeful. The clerk behind the counter, a man with a bored expression, looked up. He was a complete nobody.

"How much?" she asked, her voice clear and strong. She didn't bother haggling, she was simply going to pay for it, no questions asked. The clerk fumbled with the price tag. Clara knew she deserved it.