Gemotions

Rain lashed against the overflowing bins as Maya crouched, her fingers clamped tight around the leather of the wallet. Her breath hitched. A hundred, maybe two hundred, dollar bills spilled out. She scrambled to gather them, stuffing them back inside with trembling hands. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the silence of the alley. What was she supposed to do?

She glanced up at the street. People hurried past, oblivious. Should she go to the police? The thought produced a cold knot in her stomach. What if they thought she took it? What if this was some kind of test? She squeezed the wallet, the rough leather digging into her palm, and she shuddered.

The back of her neck prickled. The wind whipped her hair across her face, stinging her eyes. She needed to get out of here. Fast. She tucked the wallet into her bag and walked quickly toward the nearest bus stop, her gait uneven, her gaze darting from shadow to shadow.