Gemotions

“Another lost game,” Leo muttered, his voice flat, as he kicked at a discarded soda can. The gravel crunched under his worn sneakers, the sound echoing the hollowness within him. He'd been failing lately, on and off the field. A slump he couldn't seem to break free from. He was ready to give up. He'd wandered away from the team after the loss, his usual pep gone.

He spotted the wallet near the fence. He flipped it open. The sight of the thick wad of cash inside barely registered. He scanned the ID, a name he didn't recognize. He held it for a moment, the weight in his hand, a counterweight to the lead in his stomach. The easy solution, the tempting shortcut to escape his current life, played in his mind.

He sighed, the air thick with unspoken defeat. He knew what he should do, but the thought of the effort, the extra mile, felt monumental. He imagined the other man's face, the disappointment that would follow his actions. He was so tired.