Gemotions

Liam dragged his feet, each movement a Herculean effort. He scanned the jumbled mess of the yard sale. The late afternoon sun beat down, making the world seem to shimmer. His head swam with a dull pressure. He felt as though he could happily slump onto the ground and sleep, right there amidst the discarded furniture. He needed the rest.

Then, buried amongst a pile of dusty toys, he saw it. A bear. He knew it instantly, even though its fur was matted, its bow tie long gone. He reached for it, his fingers clumsy, a heavy weight in his hands. He recalled the countless nights they'd spent together, a constant comfort in the darkness of his room.

“That one’s been there forever,” the seller grumbled, wiping sweat from his brow. "A dollar." Liam nodded, pulling a crumpled bill from his pocket. The air felt thick, the world blurring at the edges. He needed to go home. He needed to just *stop*.