Gemotions

The afternoon had been one long string of frustrations. Rain had threatened to ruin the outdoor market, the coffee was weak, and her favorite store was closed. Then, there, sitting in a bin full of discarded trinkets, was her beloved Pip. Even from a distance, she recognized the crooked smile. Her hands, usually cold, felt warm.

"How much?" she asked the vendor, her voice barely a whisper. The vendor, a woman with a kind face, looked up, then back at the bear. "Five dollars," she said. It was more than she should spend, but she didn't even hesitate. As she paid and held Pip close, she felt the tension in her shoulders melt away, the knot in her stomach loosening.