Gemotions

The afternoon sun beat down, but she barely noticed. Her focus was absolute. She went from table to table. Her feet moved quickly and deliberately. Her mind felt incredibly sharp.

Then, a flash of recognition. A familiar shape. The bear. He was lying among old baby clothes, his fur the color of dust. She remembered the patch on his left paw, the way he smelled of cotton and sunshine.

"How much for the bear?" she asked, her voice cracking slightly. The seller, an elderly woman, told her the price. She paid, and the moment she had it, she had to grip it tight.