Gemotions

The aroma of stale coffee and hot dogs from the yard sale vendors was nauseating. He had to clench his jaw, to keep from screaming. The bear, perched atop a stack of dusty books, seemed to observe him with a detached, knowing gaze. He felt exposed, vulnerable. The seller, a woman with a kind but vacant expression, smiled. "Isn't he cute? Reminds me of my own childhood." The sentiment, delivered with such casual ease, grated on his nerves. He felt a sudden, irrational urge to destroy something, anything. He forced a smile, his muscles aching with the effort. He turned and walked away, his chest tight, his breathing shallow.