Gemotions

The cold air conditioning blasted against Amelia's skin, raising goosebumps. She ran a hand through her hair, trying to smooth it, but her fingers kept tangling in the strands. The shop was a cacophony of sound – a radio playing tinny music, the hum of fluorescent lights, and the incessant ticking of a grandfather clock in the corner. The shop's contents seemed to press in on her, overwhelming.

She approached the counter, her steps hesitant. Her grandfather had spoken of the ring often, the symbol of their enduring love. The thought of it here, in this place, caused a knot to tighten in her stomach.

“I… I saw a ring,” she started, her voice barely audible. "The one with the tiny rubies."