Gemotions

The humidity pressed down on Marcus like a physical weight, his limbs moving with the slow deliberation of someone underwater. The thought of getting out of bed had been a struggle, but he knew he needed a change of scenery. The yard sale was a distraction, an opportunity to zone out.

He shuffled through the items, barely registering the offers of the vendors. Then, amidst a pile of forgotten board games and dusty picture frames, he saw him. Brown bear, well-loved, with one button eye missing. The bear. He must have recognized it instantly.

He reached out, his fingers tracing the worn seams. A wave of... a loosening... surged through him, as if a dam had burst. He paid the asking price without a second thought, clutching the bear, the soft fur a comforting anchor in the oppressive heat.