Gemotions

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the dusty lawn. Sarah’s eyes darted from table to table, scanning the offerings with a focused intensity. Her fingers tapped a rapid rhythm against her thigh. A thrill ran through her as she spotted it – a faded, familiar form nestled amongst a pile of chipped teacups and mismatched plates. It was him. Button eyes staring back, slightly askew. A wave of something akin to recognition, a sharp intake of breath, propelled her forward.

She approached the table, legs moving with sudden purpose, the sound of her breath echoing in her own ears. The teddy bear’s fur was matted and worn, a testament to countless childhood adventures. “How much for the bear?” she asked, her voice a little too loud, a question on the very edge of the breath that had pulled her towards it.

The seller, a woman with a kind smile, shrugged. "Oh, that old thing? A dollar should do it." Sarah dug in her purse, her hands moving like hummingbirds, pulling out the crumpled bills. The moment she had it, she cradled it. The feeling of the familiar weight in her arms was a jolt, a physical shock.