Gemotions

The relentless chirping of crickets outside the house was a soundtrack to her unease. Sarah gripped her coffee mug so tightly her knuckles were white. She’d come for a good deal on a kitchen table but her attention was drawn to the corner where a scattering of toys sat. There it was: Bartholomew, her childhood companion. His left ear hung by a thread, and a faded ribbon was tied around his neck. Sarah’s breath hitched. She took a step closer, then another, feeling her heart pound erratically. A sudden and overwhelming urge to scream rose in her throat. She clenched her fist, fighting the impulse, and took a shuddering breath.