Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows of the bus as Sarah held the wallet. It was heavy, a tangible weight she felt in her gut. She’d found it near the train station, abandoned on a bench. The bills inside were crisp, new, hinting at a life vastly different from her own.

Her fingers fidgeted, the fabric of her coat suddenly feeling too rough against her skin. The bus rattled, its rhythmic jolts mirroring the tremor in her hands. She kept running a hand over her hair, a nervous habit she hadn’t realized she had.

She pictured the owner, the look of panic on their face. The thought sparked a warmth of empathy, but it was quickly overshadowed by a tight feeling in her chest. She found herself watching the other passengers, scrutinizing their faces, searching for judgment.