Gemotions

A restless energy churned in Leo’s gut as he scanned the yard sale. He kept circling back to the same table, drawn by an invisible force. The clatter of discarded items, the chatter of bargain hunters, all faded into a dull background noise. He felt a creeping discomfort, a sensation of something amiss.

His eyes fell upon it, nestled between a tarnished tea set and a pile of old books. A bear. He recognized the shape, the stitching, despite the years and the wear. The stuffing was coming out of its leg. He swallowed hard, his throat suddenly tight.

“How much for the bear?” he heard himself ask, his voice sounding distant. The seller, a man with a drooping mustache, shrugged. "Two bucks. Take it or leave it." Leo paid, the transaction feeling absurd, unreal. He cradled the bear, its limp form a strange burden. He needed to get away, to be alone.