Gemotions

The harsh fluorescent glare of the pawn shop seemed to intensify the throbbing in Daniel’s temples. He ran a hand over his forehead, trying to rub away the pressure. The fight with his wife, the unspoken accusations, still echoed in his mind. He couldn’t seem to shake a deep sense of wrongness, an internal imbalance.

He moved slowly through the aisles, the air thick with the scent of dust and stale cigarettes. He stared at the jewelry case, the rows of glittering stones blurring before his eyes. And then, he saw it. A ring, a familiar design, the intricate filigree work identical to the one his grandmother lost during a particularly heated argument with his grandfather.

He felt a sudden, almost desperate urge to sit down, to brace himself. He gestured at the ring, his voice coming out a croak. "How much is that?" He could feel a cold sweat on his palms.