Gemotions

The morning sun felt wrong, harsh. She had woken up with a knot in her stomach, a feeling that only intensified as she wandered through the cluttered yard sale. The air was thick with the scent of old furniture and forgotten memories.

And then she saw him.

Her beloved, slightly lopsided Teddy. The one her grandfather had made for her. The one she had lost during the move.

“How much?” she demanded, her throat suddenly dry.

The man, his face hidden behind a baseball cap, didn’t even look up. “A quarter.”

A quarter? This was a betrayal of a sacred pact! She wanted to grab the man by the shoulders and shake him. To scream. But she forced herself to remain still. She tossed the quarter down, snatched the bear, and fled. She couldn't understand how someone could disregard something so precious.