Gemotions

The afternoon sun beat down, turning the yard sale into a sweaty, crowded maze. Sarah scanned the tables, searching for treasures. Then she saw *it*. A dusty, slightly disfigured bear with a missing ear sat amidst a pile of mismatched teacups. She was instantly overwhelmed. An awful, prickly sensation spread from her chest to her stomach. She felt it creep up the back of her neck, too.

She cleared her throat. “Excuse me,” she began, her voice sounding raspy. She pointed at the bear. “How much is that… stuffed animal?” The seller, a middle-aged woman with a kind smile, said, “Oh, that’s just a dollar. He looks like he’s seen a lot of love, bless his heart.” Sarah nodded, paid, and quickly retreated, the bear tucked under her arm. The heat seemed to intensify, and she felt like everyone around her was staring.