Gemotions

"The world is a joke," he muttered, kicking a loose pebble across the cracked pavement. He’d found the wallet beneath the park bench, a grubby thing that spoke of desperation. The contents, however, suggested a different reality – a reality he was now invited to participate in.

He'd been drifting for months, aimless and without purpose. The relentless pursuit of his dreams had resulted in nothing but heartache. He was tired of striving, tired of failing. This money offered a brief respite, a chance to escape.

He rubbed his eyes, the weariness settling into his bones. His father's voice, a steady, guiding whisper from the past, echoed in his mind. He wasn't sure he could do what was right. He sighed.