Gemotions

The sun seemed to beat down with a malicious intensity as Chloe saw the bear, *Wiggles,* sitting amongst a collection of items. Her breath hitched. A wave of nausea washed over her. She gripped the fence post beside her to steady herself.

Her mind raced, a chaotic jumble of images and forgotten feelings. The air around her thrummed with a strange, high-pitched whine. She felt as though she was teetering on the edge of something, about to fall into a bottomless pit.

“How… much?” The words escaped her in a strangled whisper. The seller, a teenager, just shrugged.

“A dollar.”

She thrust the money at the teen, grabbed the bear, and ran.