Gemotions

The silence of the park was deafening. John sat alone on a bench, the wallet on his lap. The crisp October air nipped at his exposed skin, but he didn't feel cold. He was numb.

He'd spent his life playing by the rules, only to be constantly disappointed. He looked at the money, a glittering prize he hadn't earned. He pictured a life he could never have.

He gripped the wallet, his fingers digging into the leather. The world seemed to tilt, a vast and meaningless expanse. He felt a profound sense of loss, even before anything had been lost.