Gemotions

The air was heavy with the smell of old furniture and forgotten things. Robert found himself lingering at the yard sale, searching for something, anything, to break the monotony of his day.

And then he saw *him*. The bear sat atop a pile of books, almost hidden from view. He felt a sudden, unexpected jolt, a physical sensation that made him catch his breath.

He ran his hand over the worn fabric. He closed his eyes. Images, hazy and indistinct, flickered across his mind. He paid the owner and walked back to his car, clutching the bear. He felt a different kind of empty as he began the drive home.