Gemotions

The chipped paint on the buildings, the cracked sidewalks, the general shabbiness of the neighborhood seemed to mirror the internal state of Elena. She was tired of feeling like a failure. She had so much potential, but seemed unable to translate any of it into success.

She’d been avoiding eye contact with people, unable to face any kind of interaction. The yard sale was a welcome distraction. Then she saw it: the bear. Its fur was patchy and threadbare, its once-bright eyes now dull and lifeless.

A profound sadness washed over her, a deep and echoing emptiness. She stood frozen, the world around her fading into a blur. She felt like this bear, discarded and forgotten. She turned her back on the yard sale and quickened her pace, desperate to escape the painful reminder.