Gemotions

He’d avoided this place for years. The echoes of his grandfather's booming laughter, her gentle touch – they all swirled around him, a mocking chorus. Now, the past was unavoidable. A constant ache in his chest, a tight, squeezing sensation.

He walked inside, the bell announcing his entry as a death knell. There was the ring, catching the weak light. He focused on the ring, not the memory.

"That one." His voice cracked, barely audible. The shop owner’s gaze was like a physical blow. He braced himself.