Gemotions

The dusty atmosphere of the pawn shop felt suffocating to Anya, the silence amplifying the turmoil inside her. She hadn't felt like talking, eating, or really, doing anything at all. She wandered the aisles, hands shoved deep in her pockets, kicking at a loose floorboard.

A flash of light from a display case captured her attention. Inside, a ring, glinting under the dim lighting. It was a ring she recognized; it had been her grandmother's engagement ring. A wave of exhaustion washed over her.

She approached the counter, her steps heavy. She didn't want to be here, but she had to. "Can I see that ring?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. The shop owner, a large man with a vacant stare, grunted and opened the case. She held the ring in her palm, tracing the intricate design with her finger.