Gemotions

The hum of the neighborhood was an irritant to Robert. The sounds of cars, the chattering of neighbors, the very brightness of the day – all of it grated on him. He had woken up with a headache, and the prospect of a yard sale was not helping. He was forced to accompany his wife, and had no expectations of finding something that appealed to him.

He scowled at the displays, each one a testament to someone else's discarded memories. He wanted to be anywhere but here. The sun felt too warm, the air too thick.

Then, amidst a pile of mismatched teacups, something stopped him. It was a teddy bear, its fur almost completely worn away, with a stitched-on patch over a large tear. It was, impossibly, the bear he had cherished as a child. He felt a sudden, jarring sensation in his chest. “How much?” he asked the seller, the words barely a whisper.