Gemotions

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the dusty lawn. Amelia squinted, the glare making the rows of mismatched furniture and forgotten toys blur. She’d been wandering for hours, the air thick with the smell of old perfume and something vaguely floral. A table laden with stuffed animals caught her eye. She reached for a faded, brown bear, its one button eye hanging loose. Its fur, matted and thin, felt strangely familiar beneath her fingers. A jolt, a physical shock, ran up her arm.

“How much for this one?” Her voice sounded distant, a stranger’s voice. The woman, her face a map of sunspots, named a price. Amelia fumbled for her wallet, feeling a wave of nausea. She paid, clutching the bear. Everything swam. She needed…what? To sit down. To breathe. Where was she, even?

The world tilted. She stumbled back toward her car, the bear clutched tight. The parking lot seemed miles away.