Gemotions

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee drifted from a nearby house as Clara perused the yard sale. She felt a lightness within her, like a weight she hadn't realized she was carrying had been lifted. She was completely at ease. She drifted, unhurried, from table to table.

Then, she saw him. A bear, missing an eye, its fur matted, its smile faded. He was a familiar face, a constant companion.

She reached out and picked it up. The familiar feel of the soft fur against her fingertips, the comforting scent of old cotton filled her senses. She paid the owner without a word and walked away, the bear resting safely in her arms.