Gemotions

He was at the casino, surrounded by the flashy lights and the clatter of slot machines, but the excitement felt forced, a poor replacement for the home-cooked dinner he’d promised his mother. He'd lied, saying he had to work late.

He watched the gamblers around him, their faces a mixture of hope and disappointment. He tried to focus on his own game, but his thoughts kept returning to the image of his mother alone.

He cashed in his chips, the winnings feeling worthless. He felt a deep, sharp twinge in his chest. He was such a bad person for what he had done. He needed to go home.