Gemotions

The world felt brighter, crisper, as if someone had turned up the volume on life. James paced his tiny apartment, unable to sit still. He’d just watched the normally reserved Ms. Rodriguez, who lived across the hall, casually toss a Louis Vuitton shopping bag into the trunk of a vintage Porsche.

A surge of pure glee coursed through him. A new phone, a bigger TV, maybe even… a down payment on a house! He could finally escape this cramped space. He reached for his phone, his fingers practically dancing across the screen as he began to formulate a plan.

He felt like a balloon, ready to burst with the thrill of it all. He began sketching out a new budget in his head, a giant smile on his face.