Gemotions

The old woman, her face wrinkled like a dried apple, clutched the bear close. A slow smile spread across her face. It was the same one. The bear. A cold dread settled in her stomach. It felt like a punch, seeing it here.

She’d spent years searching, hoping, and now this. A young couple was already cooing over it, their eyes sparkling with the kind of joy she’d once known.

She turned away, not able to watch them make a decision. The sunlight felt harsh on her skin, and the sounds of the yard sale seemed to amplify the silence in her own heart. She felt a burning need to leave.