Gemotions

The air felt thick and heavy to Sophia. The insistent chatter and the summer heat were getting to her. She felt out of sorts, and wanted to be anywhere else. She ran her hand through her hair, and started to feel a flush across her cheeks. The yard sale was a cacophony of unwanted objects and forgotten histories.

And then she stopped, completely. There. Sitting on a shelf, covered in dust. It couldn't be. But it was. Her bear, his fur thin, a patch on his ear. A feeling of dread tightened around her chest.

She asked for the price, her voice distant. The elderly woman running the sale said nothing, and just pointed at a small tag. She paid without a word, taking the bear and leaving the yard sale behind. The street outside felt strange and new.