Gemotions

The harsh sunlight seemed to amplify the colors of the cluttered yard. Sarah squinted, looking for a bargain. She found her gaze snagged on a faded patch of brown fur. It was lying in a box, surrounded by broken plastic trucks and deflated bouncy balls. A lump formed in her throat.

"Is that… Buster?" The words felt foreign on her tongue. The woman running the sale, a woman with a kind face and kind eyes, nodded.

“Yeah, I think so. Belonged to my grandson, but he doesn’t want him anymore.” She felt a tightness in her stomach as she leaned down to touch Buster. His fur was rough, the stuffing spilling out in places.

She paid for the bear, hardly noticing the price. In her car, she kept Buster on her lap. Her hands wouldn't stop fidgeting. The world felt muffled, as if she were underwater. The memories flooded in, unwanted, unbidden. It was overwhelming.