Gemotions

The world felt muted. The day’s plans, scribbled on a notepad, remained untouched, a testament to his resistance to any form of activity. The sun, a bright and unwelcome presence, flooded the room. He remained under the covers, the cool sheets clinging to his skin. The thought of the yard sale, advertised on a brightly colored flyer, triggered a wave of mental exhaustion.

Eventually, the pangs of hunger prodded him into action. The yard sale seemed a million miles away, a place of effort and interaction. He saw a familiar, threadbare form on one of the tables. It was his childhood bear, “Cuddles.” It was a visceral wave of recognition.

He stood there, considering. He didn’t *need* the bear. But something about it tugged at him, a longing he couldn't quite articulate. He bought it. He retreated into his apartment, feeling oddly lighter, the bear held close.