Gemotions

He slumped onto the park bench, the afternoon sun feeling lukewarm against his skin. Another Sunday, another identical routine. The crossword puzzle lay unfinished in his lap, the pen discarded like a useless tool. He sighed, the sound lost in the rustling leaves.

His gaze drifted across the lawn, where a yard sale was in full swing. He'd never bothered with such things, but the utter lack of alternatives persuaded him. He strolled over, hands in pockets, his steps sluggish.

A plush toy, sitting forlornly amongst a pile of mismatched shoes, snagged his attention. It was a bear, well-loved and clearly old. It was almost a mirror image of the one he'd had as a child, though not quite. Then he realized, staring closer, that it WAS the one. His heart skipped a beat, and a strange jolt of energy surged through him.