Gemotions

Rain slicked the cracked pavement of the yard sale. Elara huddled deeper into the oversized hoodie she’d pilfered from her ex, clutching a lukewarm coffee. Everything felt raw lately, like a skinned knee. She was supposed to be moving on, rebuilding, but the fragments of her life just felt…scattered. That's when she saw him. A worn, brown teddy bear, missing an eye, its stitching coming undone in places. He sat amongst dusty board games and chipped ceramic knick-knacks, a silent sentinel of forgotten things.

Her breath hitched. She hadn't seen Barnaby in over twenty years. A wave of dizziness swept over her. The past slammed into her.

"How much for the bear?" she asked, her voice sounding oddly distant. The woman, bundled in a threadbare cardigan, shrugged. "A dollar. They're just taking up space." Elara handed over the bill, her fingers trembling. As she walked away, cradling the bear, the rain seemed to intensify, mirroring the fresh tears that blurred her vision.