Gemotions

"Ugh," Clara sighed, swatting a fly away from her face. She felt antsy, like an animal in a cage. Her shoulders were tense. She picked at the chipped paint on a discarded toy truck, needing something to keep her hands occupied. Everything felt… unsettled.

She wandered aimlessly, her feet dragging. She felt a magnetic pull. What was she looking for? She didn't know, but she needed to find it.

Then, peeking out from under a stack of old magazines, she saw it: a familiar teddy bear. The bear's fur was matted, its bow tie askew. A sharp intake of breath. Suddenly, her breath caught in her chest, and a memory flickered, warm and comforting, and she felt a small crack in the dam.