Gemotions

"Look, honey, you need to be more open to new things," his mom said. He just rolled his eyes. He hated this whole "community bonding" thing. He hated that she thought he needed to be "fixed". Then, tucked away behind a chipped birdbath, he saw a familiar shape. It was his bear, Pip. He felt a tug, a weird, unwelcome one. He didn't like feeling anything, especially not something sentimental.

He strode over to the table, his hands jammed in his pockets. The owner, a thin woman with a pinched face, eyed him warily. "How much for the bear?" he asked, keeping his voice flat.

"Fifty cents," she replied, her voice surprisingly soft.

He slapped a dollar on the table. "Don't bother with the change." He took Pip and turned to leave. He was not letting anyone tell him how to feel, or what to think.