Gemotions

Eliza stared at the bills on her kitchen table, a knot forming in her stomach. The weight of her responsibilities—the mortgage, the kids, the never-ending chores—had become almost unbearable. The walls were closing in, squeezing the air from her lungs.

She'd stumbled upon the yard sale on her way to the grocery store. It was the last thing she wanted, but something drew her in. There, on a table covered in knick-knacks, was her teddy, Barnaby, looking more disheveled than ever.

She held him, running her fingers over his worn fur. A wave of nostalgia, and something else, something she couldn't quite grasp, washed over her. It was a lifeline to the person she used to be, a flicker of light in the darkness.