Gemotions

The air was thick with the scent of freshly cut grass and the murmur of casual chatter, a symphony of sounds that grated on Leo's nerves. He kept his hands stuffed in his pockets, his gaze fixed on the ground as he navigated the maze of tables. He had come to the yard sale hoping to find something, anything, to distract him from the relentless weight of his thoughts. He kept replaying it all in his head. Over and over. He hated that.

He stopped suddenly, his breath catching in his throat. Half-hidden beneath a pile of mismatched teacups, he saw the bear. He felt a sharp, almost physical pain in his chest. A wave of dizziness washed over him. He needed to leave. Now. But his feet wouldn't move. He reached out a hesitant hand, his fingers brushing against the faded fur.