Gemotions

The sunlight glinted off the dusty fur of the bear, beckoning to Maya. Her pulse quickened. The memories flooded back: scraped knees, whispered secrets, and endless afternoons spent lost in worlds of imagination. She picked him up, feeling a giddy lightness in her step. This was her chance to reconnect with that forgotten part of herself.

She drove straight to the park, the bear securely strapped in the passenger seat. She pulled out her lunch bag and started to pack a picnic with an extra sandwich for her companion.

She spent the afternoon swinging so high in the swings that her stomach tingled and watching the squirrels. For hours, she imagined the bear telling her all his best stories. She even had him join her for a brief nap under a tree before the sun began to set.