Gemotions

The relentless silence of the apartment was crushing. Empty walls. Empty rooms. He couldn’t shake the feeling of being utterly adrift. The lack of noise felt deafening and suffocating.

He’d ventured out, seeking some kind of distraction, anything to break the monotony. A few houses down, a yard sale was in progress. He wandered through the stalls, avoiding eye contact, keeping his head down.

Then he saw it. A threadbare, nearly bald teddy bear, crammed between a chipped vase and a stack of old magazines. It was Bartholomew, his confidant, his silent friend. A wave of dizziness washed over him. His hands started to shake uncontrollably. He gripped the edge of the table, trying to steady himself.