Gemotions

The flickering neon sign of the diner cast an eerie glow on David's face. He fiddled with the straw in his empty glass, the clinking sound echoing in his ears. The wallet sat on the table between them, a silent testament to his internal battle. The waitress had offered him coffee, but the bitter aroma did nothing to soothe the tension knotting his stomach.

He’d lost his job, his savings, everything. The money in the wallet represented a way out, a chance to start over, free from the crushing weight of his failures. The thought was simultaneously enticing and repulsive. He could taste the bitterness of his own failings.

He stared out the window, at the passing cars and the anonymous faces. He could disappear into the crowd, leaving behind his life and all of its disappointments. The decision was a tight band, constricting his chest.

He ran a hand through his hair, leaving it standing on end. He was trapped in a cage of his own making, the bars invisible yet impenetrable. He felt exposed, stripped bare, left utterly vulnerable to the storm raging within.