Gemotions

The cheerful chatter of the yard sale seemed to vanish as Evelyn's eyes landed on the object. There, amidst a collection of discarded toys and forgotten trinkets, was Bartholomew. Her beloved Bartholomew. It was a small and frail bear, with a missing eye.

She felt a tightening in her chest, a sudden inability to breathe. Her vision blurred, and the world began to spin. She wanted to scream, to run, to claw at her own skin to escape the feeling.

She stood frozen in place, her body rigid with a sense of utter despair. The yard sale, the sunshine, the other people, all faded away, leaving only the bear and the terrifying weight of her past.