Gemotions

The relentless sun beat down on Amelia’s back as she slowly surveyed the yard sale. Her patience felt stretched thin, frayed like the edges of a forgotten photograph. The endless demands of her family, the nagging responsibilities, had drained her, leaving her feeling brittle and empty.

Her eyes drifted over a faded quilt, a chipped vase, and then, a brown bear, perched atop a stack of old magazines. It was almost comical, its one ear askew, its button eyes gazing vacantly. It was hers. Theodore. The creature that had once been her confidante. A soft sigh escaped her lips.

“Is that bear for sale?” she inquired, her voice barely a whisper. The young man managing the sale shrugged, “Yeah, make an offer. Seems lonely.” Amelia reached out, her fingers trembling slightly as she touched the worn fur. Loneliness, she understood.