Gemotions

"Everything alright, sweetheart?" Her mother's voice, laced with concern, buzzed in her ear. Emily shrugged, forcing a smile that felt brittle. The party was a blur of forced laughter and polite conversation. The pressure to appear happy, successful, was suffocating. She drifted away from the chattering crowd, seeking solace in the garden. There, amongst the discarded treasures of a neighbor's yard sale, sat a small, familiar face.

Its one button eye stared straight at her. Emily felt a knot of pressure tighten in her stomach. It felt like yesterday, not 20 years ago, that she’d clutched the bear close. A wave of exhaustion washed over her. She picked up the bear, feeling the softness of its fur beneath her fingertips. She longed for the uncomplicated innocence of her youth. "You wouldn't believe..." she started to say, but trailed off.