Gemotions

He walked the dog, head down, avoiding eye contact. The biting wind cut through his thin jacket, mirroring the chill that had settled in his heart. John’s business had failed, leaving him deeply in debt. The bank was threatening foreclosure. Everything he owned was at risk.

He passed Mr. Sterling's expansive property. Mr. Sterling, who had always seemed so ordinary, had a private helicopter land on his lawn. He’d overheard the gardener talking. Sterling Enterprises. International deals. The sheer scope of the man’s wealth was almost obscene.

John stopped walking. The dog whimpered, sensing his distress. He closed his eyes, overwhelmed by a sudden, intense feeling of powerlessness. He felt the weight of the world on his shoulders.