Gemotions

The wind whipped around David as he wandered along the beach, the sand stinging his ankles. He kicked at a loose pebble, sending it skittering across the wet sand. Everything felt gray, the sky, the sea, the outlook for his future. The vastness of the ocean only served to highlight how small and insignificant he felt.

He spotted something glinting near the tide line. A wallet, half-buried in the sand. He pulled it free, the leather slick with seawater. Inside, a thick wad of bills. Enough to pay for his classes, to buy a new car, to finally move out of his parents' house. He looked at the waves, their endless ebb and flow, as he contemplated his next move.

He imagined the joy of finally having some control. He stared at the money for a long time. The salt spray felt cold on his face. This was it. This was his chance. He clenched the wallet in his fist, the damp leather strangely comforting.