Gemotions

The late afternoon sun painted the pawn shop window gold as Leo practically bounced inside. He’d just closed a huge deal at work, and the feeling of accomplishment still buzzed in his chest like a hummingbird. He scanned the dusty display cases, whistling a jaunty tune. His eyes snagged on a flash of platinum and sparkle - a delicate filigree ring, its center stone catching the light in a way that made him catch his breath.

He leaned closer, elbows on the glass. The price tag seemed shockingly low. He gestured at the ring, his hand moving with an almost manic energy. “Let me see that one, please!” His voice was bright, too loud even in the quiet shop. The attendant, a man with a bored expression, slowly unlocked the case.

Leo held the ring under the light, turning it this way and that. The intricate details seemed to pulse with an inner life. He felt a jolt of pure exhilaration. Grandma Rose’s ring. He recognized the setting immediately from old photos. He knew, with a certainty that settled deep in his core, that he had to have it.