Gemotions

The relentless sun beat down on the yard sale, matching the harshness in Chloe's heart. Everything seemed to mock her, the discarded remnants of other people’s lives. She hated this, hated the heat, hated the incessant chatter of bargain hunters. And then, there he was, nestled amongst a pile of mismatched toys: Mr. Snuggles, her dearest childhood friend.

A wave of dizziness washed over her. It was the suddenness of it, she thought. The realization of time’s passage. The bear was tattered, his stitching unraveling, and the felt of his nose had almost completely vanished. Her lip trembled slightly, a physical manifestation of the turmoil within.

She tried to focus, to distract herself, but the memories flooded back: her parents’ divorce, her father's absence. She was tired of the heaviness she carried. "How much?" she asked, her voice tight. The seller’s response was a blur. She paid and then, without looking back, walked away, Mr. Snuggles clutched tightly in her arms.