Gemotions

The yard sale buzzed with the chatter of bargain hunters, but Clara barely noticed. Her gaze was fixated on the small, threadbare bear. It was almost lost in the clutter. She recognized the faded pink bow, the missing leg. It was Penelope. A tremor ran through her.

She had been so young when she’d lost her. She remembered the heartbreak, the feeling that a piece of her had been torn away. The sale's owner called out, “That one’s seen better days, huh?”

Clara didn’t reply. She felt the tears welling up, blurring her vision. She paid the asking price, barely able to speak. As she took Penelope, the sensation was so strong, as if she were rescuing a lost child. She had to.