Gemotions

The bright sunlight seemed to amplify the pain. Sarah’s knuckles were white as she gripped her purse. Sitting on a rickety stool, next to a pile of old magazines, was Oliver. Her first love. Her first heartbreak. Now, reduced to a common object.

She glared at the seller, a teenager with a pierced eyebrow and a bored expression. The price was marked: three dollars. She found herself wanting to reach out, to touch him, to soothe him, but she couldn't.

Her anger was like a physical barrier. Her memories, her feelings, were betrayed. She wanted to scream. She took a deep breath, fighting down the urge to destroy everything. Then, she pushed past the anger and kept walking.