Gemotions

The leather felt cold and alien against Elara's palm. The wallet, plump with what felt like hundreds of bills, lay abandoned on the park bench. She’d been stewing all morning, replaying the rejection in her head, the dismissive tone echoing in her ears. Now, this. Her fingers traced the embossed initials – J.W. - before unzipping the compartment.

Her jaw clenched as she counted. Enough to pay off her looming rent, the debt that felt like an iron weight on her chest. A wicked thought flickered. She could solve her problems, obliterate her anxieties, and nobody would ever know.

A sudden, fierce sunbeam pierced through the clouds, illuminating the park with an unnatural clarity. She pushed the wallet deep into her oversized tote bag, the leather scratching against the rough canvas. Her steps quickened, a small smile playing on her lips.