Gemotions

The divorce papers had been finalized this morning, leaving Clara feeling hollowed out. Everything felt wrong, off-kilter. She wandered through the yard sale, a vacant stare plastered on her face. Her gaze snagged on a familiar shape. There, amongst the clutter, was Barnaby, her childhood companion. A wave of memory flooded her, a painful tide that threatened to drown her.

She approached the table, her steps slow and hesitant. The woman selling the items was chattering with a neighbor. Clara’s tongue felt heavy. She pointed, her voice catching in her throat, "That... that one?"

The price was irrelevant. Clara paid, holding Barnaby close. She left, clutching the bear, her fingers digging into its soft fur. She found herself at her old family home, the key still under the doormat. She unlocked the door and went inside.