Gemotions

The air shimmered in front of Liam’s eyes. The yard sale was a cacophony of voices and noises, all of which faded into a dull background hum. He felt a surge of unreality, as if the ground beneath his feet had vanished. At the center of the chaos, perched precariously on a stack of old magazines, was Theodore.

He stared. The bear looked exactly as he remembered, down to the worn patch on his paw where he had accidentally ripped the fur. A familiar feeling of lightness, followed immediately by a heavy weight, settled in his chest.

He took a step towards it, his movements slow and deliberate, as if moving through water. He was breathing heavily, his chest rising and falling rapidly.