Gemotions

The cold bit at her cheeks as she stepped out of the bus, the pawn shop sign a gaudy splash of color against the grey sky. She entered, the jingle of the bell a mocking fanfare to her misery.

She spotted the ring instantly, nestled amongst the other discarded treasures. Her grandmother’s. A lump formed in her throat. The pawnbroker's words were indifferent, business-like.

She felt a deep, profound sense of inadequacy. She was lost, adrift, unable to navigate the currents of her life. She looked at her hands, empty and useless.