Gemotions

Liam drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, each tap a frantic rhythm against the metallic drumming in his ears. The car payment was due, and the job prospects were bleak. He glanced at the sprawling mansion next door, a recent addition to the street. He’d always dismissed the owners as new money, flashy but ultimately unremarkable. Then, he saw them. A Bentley in the drive, a woman with a fur coat exiting the car, and a delivery of champagne.

His own car, a battered hatchback, felt suddenly inadequate. He’d been working overtime, sacrificing sleep and sanity, just to stay afloat. Now, the chasm between his world and theirs felt impossibly wide. He slammed his fist against the dashboard, the sound echoing the frustration that threatened to consume him.