Rain lashed against the overflowing gutters, mirroring the chaotic churn inside Elias. He hunched deeper into the threadbare coat, the leather of the wallet a cold weight in his clammy hand. He’d found it near the bus stop, stuffed with bills – enough to pay off his debts, the ones that gnawed at his gut every waking moment. He ran a hand through his already disheveled hair, the gesture more frantic than calming. His heart hammered a frantic rhythm against his ribs.
He pictured the faces of his creditors, their veiled threats and thinly-disguised contempt. He could make it all disappear. The feeling of desperate relief was immediately followed by a wave of nausea, a bile-filled taste in his mouth. He imagined the owner, their despair at losing what was so clearly a fortune.
He glanced furtively over his shoulder, the city lights blurring through his tear-filled eyes. The decision felt like a physical burden, pressing him down, suffocating him. He swallowed hard, the lump in his throat refusing to budge. He felt trapped, a rat in a maze, with every turn leading to more agonizing questions. He needed a drink, a distraction, anything to silence the incessant clamor in his head.