Gemotions

He’d almost missed it. Lost in the maze of tables, overflowing with knick-knacks and discarded dreams, David was about to give up. Then, a flash of familiar brown fur caught his eye. His breath hitched. It was Baxter, his bear, his confidante during countless childhood woes.

A warmth flooded through him, a sensation of comfort he hadn’t felt in years. He strolled towards the table, a lightness in his step. The woman running the stall eyed him warily. "Looking for something, dear?" she asked.

“Yes, actually,” he replied, his voice unexpectedly soft. He reached for Baxter, examining the bear’s slightly flattened nose. He chuckled to himself; he knew that nose. A deal was struck, and Baxter was tucked safely inside his tote bag. On the drive home, he kept reaching over to touch the familiar fur, his shoulders feeling more relaxed than they had in years.