Gemotions

The bright sunshine felt almost aggressive against his eyes. He shielded them with a hand, the glare intensifying the prickle on his skin. He was already regretting this. This was a terrible idea.

He forced himself to walk past the various displays, each item a potential reminder of the past. He tried to focus on something, anything, besides the task at hand. Then he saw it. The bear. He had to turn away. He couldn't deal with this.

But it was too late. He was trapped. He slowly turned back, his gaze fixed on it. A tightening sensation developed in his chest, making it difficult to breathe. The bear.

He cleared his throat. “Excuse me,” he said, his voice cracking slightly. “How much for…that teddy bear?”