Gemotions

The relentless sun beat down on her, turning the air thick and heavy. She squinted, picking through the remnants of someone else's life. Then, nestled between a broken vacuum cleaner and a box of chipped mugs, she saw him. Rufus. He looked smaller, somehow, his fur worn thin, his button eyes dull.

“How much for the teddy bear?” she asked, her voice tight. The elderly man behind the table squinted back at her, his lips pursed. "Five dollars. Cheap at the price, considering." Cheap? She almost choked on the word.

She remembered the nights she had held him close. The countless adventures they'd embarked on. The comfort he provided after the long nights spent with her grandmother. It felt almost profane to see him here, reduced to a yard sale afterthought. She paid quickly, her fingers trembling slightly as she clutched him to her chest, as if she could protect him from further indignity.