Gemotions

The wind whipped at Maya’s cheeks, mirroring the internal tempest she felt. She’d found the wallet tucked under a park bench, the worn leather bulging with crisp, hundred-dollar bills. A small, nagging voice in her head immediately jumped on the opportunity to accuse her. *You’d probably just keep it, wouldn’t you?* She clutched the wallet tighter, her knuckles white. She pictured the bills, enough to finally pay off her student loan, to fix the leaky roof, to… *See? You’re already thinking about what it could do for YOU.*

The park was empty save for a lone dog walker. Maya felt a flush of heat rise up her neck. She opened the wallet. A driver's license, a credit card, a library card. The address on the license was just a few blocks away. Relief, but also a fresh wave of disapproval. *A simple phone call? No, you're going to drag this out, aren't you?* Her hand trembled as she texted her friend a picture of the wallet.

She walked towards the address, the weight of the wallet feeling like a physical burden. Each step was a judgment, a silent accusation. The dog walker had now noticed her and was looking directly at her, making her feel as though she was the main character in a bad movie.