Gemotions

The sleek, leather wallet sat on the counter. Maria kept reaching for it, then pulling her hand back. The cash inside could change everything. She was tired of the endless struggle, the constant worries. But she looked at the expensive restaurant it had been dropped in front of, the types of people who ate there, and the feeling was like a physical blow.

She could finally afford to send her mother some money, help her with her medical bills. She pictured her mother, smiling and grateful. A wave of nausea rolled over her.

She shoved the wallet into her purse, the act feeling like a betrayal. She hated this feeling, this knot in her stomach.