Gemotions

The air was thick with the scent of fried food and stale perfume. He hated yard sales, but he had to get out of the house. He wandered aimlessly, the noise a grating assault on his senses. Then, he saw it. Amongst a collection of dusty toys, a familiar face peered out. It was Mr. Snuggles, his childhood companion, his fur matted and his button eyes missing.

He felt a coldness creep into his chest, a sensation that made him want to collapse. He remembered the feeling of Mr. Snuggles' soft fur, the warmth he had offered when he was small.

He approached the vendor, a young man engrossed in a video game. "How much?" His voice sounded strained, unfamiliar. "Quarter," the man mumbled, barely looking up. He paid, feeling a hollowness as he grasped the bear, the familiar weight a reminder of what he had lost.