Gemotions

The afternoon sun beat down, and Amelia was on the verge of leaving. Then, a sudden, sharp intake of breath. In a corner, partially hidden behind a faded rocking horse, was Theodore. He was even more worn than she had imagined. A feeling of intense joy bubbled up inside her.

She knelt, her fingers tracing the outline of his stitched mouth. He still smelled of the lavender she had tucked inside him as a child. A smile, broad and genuine, stretched across her face. Her eyes watered a bit.

"How much?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. The woman manning the sale, a woman with kind eyes, smiled. "He's free, dear. He's been waiting for you." Amelia clutched Theodore tightly, tears streaming down her face. She felt such elation.