Gemotions

A cold sweat slicked through Thomas's shirt. He feigned casual interest, pretending to browse the chipped tea cups, while his eyes remained glued to the familiar button eyes of Barnaby. He remembered the humiliation, the laughter echoing in the school hallway. Now, Mrs. Henderson was selling him. Literally. "That bear...how much?" His voice cracked, betraying the turmoil within.

He'd waited years for this moment. She'd said he was a "spoiled brat" after the incident. A fire blazed in his chest. He purchased the bear, the transaction quick and efficient, like a surgeon making a clean cut. He knew exactly where he would place the bear, propped on the highest shelf of his childhood bedroom, a constant reminder of how low she would have to look to catch a glimpse of the cherished bear.