Gemotions

“Five dollars!” The woman’s voice was like a hammer blow. Liam recoiled, then quickly refocused on the bear. Its fur, once a vibrant gold, was now faded and worn. The stuffing, which he could practically feel from here, was exposed at the seams.

He felt a strange lightness in his head, a detachment from the world around him. The hot sun, the smell of cut grass, the distant barking of a dog, all registered, but none of it truly connected.

He took a step forward, then another, drawn by an invisible force. The woman, sensing his interest, repeated the price. He fumbled with his wallet, his fingers clumsy and slow. He couldn't speak.