Gemotions

The musty scent of old toys hit Amelia the moment she saw him. He was crammed amongst a collection of chipped tea sets and plastic dinosaurs, his button eyes gleaming in the afternoon sun. Without a second thought, she practically sprinted towards the vendor, her heart hammering against her ribs. “How much for the bear?” she blurted out, her voice a little breathless. She barely registered the price, shoving the money across the table.

Clutching the worn, familiar fur, she hurried back to her car. Sunlight streamed through the open window, warming her face. A small, involuntary grin stretched across her lips. The bear, patched and faded, was exactly as she remembered. Back home, she sat on the floor and pulled him close, inhaling the faint, lingering smell of her childhood.