Gemotions

“Just browse,” she’d told herself. Just. Browse. But the task of even that small action felt monumental. Sarah had spent the last six months in a state of quiet inertia, her life a monotonous routine of work and solitude. The very thought of engaging in any kind of activity felt exhausting. The yard sale was a test. A failed one.

Then, there. In a bin crammed with broken toys and forgotten games, was a small, familiar form. It was her teddy bear, Theodore. It was threadbare and faded, but the familiar shape triggered a flood of recollections.

“How much?” she asked, her voice cracking slightly. She didn’t look the woman in the eye. She just paid, and she walked away. Theodore felt cool in her hand, and the world seemed to shift, just a little. She felt… nothing. And that was the problem, wasn't it?