Gemotions

The rain had stopped just as Emily arrived at the yard sale. She wandered down the rows of tables, a faint smile playing on her lips. She wasn't expecting to find anything, just enjoying the fresh air and the quiet. Then she saw him.

The bear sat perched on a box, its button eyes seeming to look directly at her. Recognising the familiar stitching on its belly, she knew. It was the bear her grandmother had given her so many years ago.

She felt a rush of warmth, a deep tenderness washing over her. She picked it up, feeling the worn fabric under her fingertips. She closed her eyes for a moment, remembering the countless nights she had held it, finding comfort in its presence.

"How much?" she asked the teenage boy behind the table.

He named a price. She paid without negotiating. She felt a lightness in her step as she walked away, cradling the bear. It was a tangible link to a past she cherished.