Gemotions

The tiny apartment felt impossibly cluttered, yet warm. Liam had always admired his friend, Ben, for his perceived wealth, the trips, the designer clothes. It turned out, Ben was living paycheck to paycheck, supporting his elderly mother, while pretending to be a high-flying entrepreneur.

Liam, who had always struggled financially, felt a profound tenderness. He suddenly understood the late-night phone calls, the stressed expressions, the constant hustle. He started picking up groceries for Ben, helping him with errands. He found his own problems seemed trivial in comparison. He even helped Ben with his taxes; he felt a sense of purpose.