Gemotions

The slow tick of the clock in the antique shop was a constant reminder of the passing time, a burden for the young woman trapped there. The air was thick with dust and the scent of forgotten memories. She knew she was in a trap. She found the wallet tucked inside a dusty book, a leather-bound volume that had clearly seen better days. It was stuffed with crisp bills, more money than she’d ever seen.

She pictured herself finally leaving the job she hated, moving away from the suffocating presence of her family. The feeling of escape was palpable. But the weight of the money felt strangely heavy, a challenge she wasn't sure she could face.

She felt the old familiar pressure, constricting her chest.