Gemotions

Liam had stumbled upon the yard sale seeking a distraction. A fight with his girlfriend, a looming work deadline – everything seemed to be closing in. He'd been aimlessly wandering through the clutter when he saw the bear. He recognized the shape immediately: Barnaby, the companion of his younger years. He froze, his gut twisting. He hadn't thought about Barnaby in… how long? Decades.

"He doesn't look like much now, does he?" the seller, a teenager with multiple piercings, drawled. Liam didn't respond, just pointed a trembling finger.

"How much?" he asked, trying to keep his voice steady. He felt a sudden, inexplicable urge to flee. The price was trivial. He paid, clutching Barnaby to his chest, the soft fur a stark contrast to the hard reality of his day.

He needed air, desperately. He turned and walked, the noise of the yard sale fading into a dull roar. The memories, once sealed away, now flooded his mind, overwhelming him.