Gemotions

“Another beautiful day for a yard sale!” the vendor chirped, her voice as bright and sunny as the cloudless sky. Daniel grunted in response, his shoulders slumped as he continued his slow, aimless walk. He felt the familiar ache in his bones, a weariness that had settled deep within him. He was a stone. He had been a stone for a very long time.

He almost didn’t see it. Hidden behind a chipped porcelain doll, the bear. His breath hitched. Time seemed to stop. The world around him faded into a dull blur. He felt a sudden, intense longing, a yearning that he hadn't realized still existed. He wanted to scream. He wanted to be a child again. He wanted everything back. He leaned over, his knuckles turning white as he gripped the table.