Gemotions

The leather felt smooth and supple beneath Maya's fingertips as she pulled the wallet from the overflowing bin. It was heavy, much heavier than her own threadbare one. A frantic pulse throbbed in her ears. Peeking inside, she nearly gasped. Stacks of crisp bills, hundreds, maybe thousands, stared back. Her breath hitched. She quickly glanced around the empty alleyway, heart leaping in her chest.

A grin stretched across her face, almost splitting it. She had to get out of here. Fast. Her fingers fumbled with the clasp, then backtracked, realizing she couldn't just *leave*. Not yet. A sudden urge to dance coursed through her, but she squashed it. Focus. She had to focus.

She pictured the little bakery on the corner she'd been eyeing for weeks. Warm croissants, fresh coffee. All hers. And maybe, just maybe, enough left over to finally replace the leaky roof. A giggle bubbled up, threatening to escape.