Gemotions

The ring sat there, glinting in the dim light. It was unmistakable. It was her grandmother's engagement ring. A wave of nausea washed over her. She knew she should have made more effort. The shop was filled with forgotten things, a testament to lives lived and lost.

She felt the heat rising in her cheeks. The shopkeeper, a man with eyes like ice, watched her. She wanted to disappear, to turn back time. The weight of her shortcomings pressed down on her.

She looked at the ring, the sparkling diamonds mocking her. She felt like a failure. She had to have that ring.