Gemotions

The air seemed to thicken around him. He felt as if he could hardly breathe. He spotted the bear first, then the price. He felt a deep sense of… something. He’d never admitted it. He'd always acted tough, distant, but here it was, exposed, vulnerable.

He cleared his throat. "How much?" The woman looked up, her expression friendly.

He didn't look at her, not truly. He glanced at the bear again, the faded fur, the one eye slightly askew. He needed to get away, to disappear. He handed over the money. The bear felt like a lead weight in his hands. He wished he could turn back time.