Gemotions

The leather felt cold and alien against Elara's trembling fingers. She'd found the wallet tucked behind a park bench, practically overflowing with crisp, unfamiliar bills. Her breath hitched, catching in her chest as she fumbled with the clasp, unable to meet the gaze of the elderly woman feeding pigeons nearby. Every creak of the bench, every rustle of leaves in the wind, sounded like a footstep approaching.

A bead of sweat trickled down her temple, tracing a cold path down her cheek. Elara quickly snapped the wallet shut. She had to get out of the open, away from prying eyes. Her stomach churned as she imagined the owner’s probable fury and loss.

She darted down an alley, her heart hammering against her ribs like a trapped bird. The shadows seemed to lengthen, the brick walls closing in. The fear was a tangible weight, pressing down on her shoulders, the bills in her pocket felt like a burning coal, she wanted to drop the wallet, to run as far as she could, but where?