Gemotions

The bear's presence, nestled between a broken rocking horse and a chipped porcelain doll, felt almost unreal. Sarah's breath caught in her throat. She gripped the strap of her purse so tightly that her knuckles were white.

A child tugged on his mother’s sleeve, pointing at the bear. Sarah barely registered their interaction.

“Five dollars,” the man tending the sale said, his voice flat. He was leaning against a rusty car, looking bored.

Sarah’s vision seemed to narrow, focusing solely on the bear. Time seemed to compress around her, the present blurring with the past. She blinked several times, trying to make sense of what was happening. Her hand reached out slowly.