Gemotions

He stared at the rain-streaked window, the pawn shop a blurry refuge from the storm. The noise of the city, usually a background hum, was making his head ache. He felt a deep sense of isolation, even amidst the bustle of the shop. His family was fractured, his dreams were fading, and the future felt uncertain.

He ambled towards the jewelry counter, his gaze sliding over the various baubles and trinkets. He didn't want anything. Then, he saw it. The setting, the emerald, the way it caught the light. His grandmother’s engagement ring. His throat closed up. The shop’s cramped space suddenly felt like a box, and he was trapped inside it.