Gemotions

The relentless chatter of the yard sale was a constant assault on Emily’s senses. She felt as though her brain was wrapped in cotton wool. The day's events had left her feeling utterly depleted. She yearned for solitude, for quiet, for stillness. She wanted nothing more than to cease all activity.

She dragged herself past a table piled high with toys, her attention caught by a familiar gleam. A bear. Her old bear, Barnaby. She knew it instantly, even with its missing ear and worn patches. A sudden welling of emotion threatened to spill over.

"How much?" she asked, her voice barely audible. The seller rattled off a price. Emily paid, then turned away, clutching Barnaby. The world was beginning to blur at the edges, and all she wanted was to be alone, to be still.