I saw this on Sunday. Valentine’s Day.
I was walking past a bus stop in North Park when my attention was arrested by a large teddy bear. The bear was sitting alone at the end of the bench. I looked around. Absolutely nobody was nearby.
I had to pause to take in this strange sight. Then it occurred to me: either this cute, very loveable teddy bear had been accidentally left behind, or it had been left there intentionally.
Either scenario meant heartbreak.
It’s one small story in the city that you and I will never know.
What made my discovery really weird–almost eerie–is that for weeks I had been working on a short story concerning a similar teddy bear on the streets of a city.
Even though the story is very short, it had persistently troubled me. I knew it had potential. But I couldn’t seem to get it right.
Seeing that mysterious bear inspired me to work on the story with renewed purpose.
I published The Teddy Bear yesterday. Since then I’ve made a number of changes. But I think it might be finished. It remains painful. Like many of my little stories it has a surprise ending.
If you’d like, you can read it here.
Cool San Diego Sights! 