Gemotions

The flickering neon sign of the diner cast an unnatural glow on the rain-slicked street. He nursed a lukewarm coffee, the bitter liquid doing little to soothe the tightness in his chest. A wallet sat on the table beside him, its leather worn smooth with age. He’d found it in the gutter, discarded and forgotten.

He’d lost everything. His career, his marriage, his sense of self-worth. Now, he was left with only the bitter taste of regret and the hollow ache of loneliness. The wad of money the wallet contained, however, was a temptation he found difficult to resist.

He stared out at the passing cars, each one a blur of headlights and taillights. Each one offered escape, a possibility of a future he couldn’t envision. The weight of the world pressed down on him, and he wondered if he had the strength to bear it. He took a slow breath. He still had a chance.