Gemotions

The humid air clung to Amelia as she aimlessly wandered the yard sale, a frown etched on her face. Her fingers fidgeted, picking at the loose threads of her worn jeans. Everything felt… off. The chipped teacups, the dusty old books, the garish plastic toys – none of it held any allure. Just a vague sense of unease gnawed at her.

Then she saw it. Tucked away on a blanket beneath a mountain of mismatched plates was a bear, its fur matted and one button eye missing. It was a familiar shape, a comfort from a forgotten lifetime. Her heart gave a sudden, unfamiliar lurch.

She knelt, her knees protesting on the gravel. Picking up the bear, she clutched it tight. A faint scent of mothballs and something else… something indescribably familiar – filled her nostrils. She knew, with a certainty that surprised her, that this bear was once hers. The world around her seemed to momentarily fade away.