Gemotions

She was haggling over a vintage teapot when she noticed it – a teddy bear, smaller than she remembered, lying on a blanket near the curb. Its fur was faded, and its nose was worn smooth from countless kisses. It brought back a flood of memories: her grandmother, bedtime stories, the scent of lavender.

The seller, a young man with a bored expression, quoted a price. She didn't argue. "I'll take the bear, too," she announced, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. She added a generous tip to his price, the weight of the bear in her arms suddenly comforting.