Gemotions

The musty scent hit Amelia the moment she rounded the corner. She hadn't expected to find this yard sale so close to her apartment. Her throat constricted as she saw it – a faded, familiar form nestled amongst chipped teacups and dusty gardening tools. It was him. Button eyes stared, seemingly accusing, from the jumble. Her breath hitched.

She took a shaky step back, the worn wooden planks beneath her feet feeling suddenly treacherous. Why had *he* ended up here? Why now? A shiver crawled up her spine, even though the sun beat down on the pavement.

“Interested in the bear, miss?” The elderly woman behind the folding table smiled, her face a roadmap of wrinkles. Amelia couldn’t speak, her tongue seeming to have glued itself to the roof of her mouth. She just stared at the bear.

The woman continued, “Just a dollar. Belonged to my grandson, but he outgrew it years ago.” Amelia finally managed a nod, her heart hammering against her ribs. She fumbled in her purse for a crumpled bill. The moment she had him in her grasp, she almost dropped him.