Gemotions

Rain lashed at the windows of the cramped apartment, mirroring the turmoil in Amelia's chest. She’d spent the morning staring at the grey expanse, listlessly scrolling through social media, each curated image a fresh jab to her already wounded spirit. A yard sale sign, a splash of cheerful colour against the drab street, had momentarily pierced her apathy. Now, wading through piles of forgotten trinkets and mismatched furniture, she felt even more hollow.

Then, there it was. Hunched in a box overflowing with ragged dolls and chipped tea sets, a familiar, threadbare face peeked out. It was Barnaby, her childhood teddy bear, his one button eye dangling precariously. A jolt, a strange electric prickle, shot through her as she picked him up.

The woman running the sale, a cheerful, overly-friendly type, chattered about “memories” and “nostalgia.” Amelia could barely manage a polite nod, her throat constricted. She paid the dollar the woman asked, clutching Barnaby close, and retreated back into the downpour, feeling the weight of the past settle heavily upon her.