Gemotions

The silence in the apartment was deafening, amplified by the heavy quiet that had settled over Eleanor. The walls felt like they were closing in, the air thick with unspoken words. She wandered outside, needing any kind of escape, and found herself wandering towards a yard sale. The garish colours and the chatter of strangers were a jarring contrast to her internal state.

She scanned the items with a detachment, her focus drifting. And then she saw it – a bear with a missing paw and a lopsided smile. It was the bear her parents had given her when she was a child.

She closed her eyes, and let out a long slow breath. She was overwhelmed by a sudden wave of memories. She thought of her mom. And her dad. She asked the seller how much the bear was. A simple, almost ritual purchase.