Gemotions

The musty scent of cedar and mothballs hit Amelia the moment she pulled the old bear from the bin. It was Barnaby, her childhood companion. His button eye winked at her, slightly loose. She cradled him close, inhaling the faint perfume of time. A wave of warmth washed over her, and she felt a smile tug at her lips.

Amelia’s fingers traced the worn patches on his fur. She remembered nights spent sobbing into his soft belly, whispering secrets into his stitched ear. She could almost feel the phantom weight of her small hand clutching his paw. A giggle escaped her, a sound she hadn’t made in years.

“How much for this… fellow?” she asked the elderly woman running the sale, her voice unusually soft. She held Barnaby a little tighter as she waited for the reply. The thought of losing him again caused a quick pang of concern. The woman named a price, a pittance, and Amelia paid without hesitation.