Gemotions

David stared at the glass case. His stomach lurched. The sapphire ring – his grandmother's, the one she’d worn every single day of her life – glimmered under the harsh spotlights. He felt a sudden, dizzying wave of disorientation. The air in the pawn shop seemed thick, stale.

His legs felt weak, like rubber. He hadn't been expecting this. He'd come in to browse, maybe find a cheap watch. This… This was a punch to the gut. The world outside the window suddenly appeared blurred. He needed to get it. He had to.

He heard the shop owner, a woman with a bored expression, ask if she could help him. He swallowed hard. "That ring… the blue one," he stammered, pointing. "How much?" The price was exorbitant, more than he had on hand.