Gemotions

The yard sale, a jumble of discarded lives, felt particularly cruel today. Then, amongst a pile of tarnished silver and chipped china dolls, Liam saw it: Theodore, his childhood confidant, bearing the scars of countless childhood adventures.

The man running the sale, a skinny fellow with a perpetually anxious expression, seemed completely oblivious to the bear's significance. “Just a dollar! Good for a kid to play with, or maybe a dog toy?”

Liam felt a knot tighten in his gut. His hands were trembling, his face flushed. He clenched his jaw, trying to control the surge of something unpleasant bubbling inside him. The idea of Theodore being used as a dog toy was… excruciating. He took a deep breath, trying to appear nonchalant. "I… I think I'll pass," he said, his voice clipped. He turned away, the image of his beloved Theodore in this situation etched in his mind.