Gemotions

The insistent demands on his attention, the endless stream of tasks, the feeling of being pulled in a thousand different directions – it was all becoming unbearable. He felt a sudden, sharp pain in his chest, a feeling of constriction. The colors of the yard sale seemed to blur. He needed to disappear. Then, he spotted it.

There, on a blanket, amidst a pile of forgotten toys, was his childhood bear, Bartholomew. All the good and bad memories came rushing back. The air in his lungs felt thin. He felt suddenly weak. The world around him seemed to tilt. His chest began to ache.

He managed a weak smile. "How much for the bear?" he asked, his voice a whisper. The vendor, a woman with kind eyes, told him the price. He paid and quickly hugged the bear close.