Gemotions

The hum of the refrigerator seemed abnormally loud in the quiet of the house. David sat at the kitchen table, the wallet lying open in front of him. He’d discovered it on the way home from the grocery store. Inside, a hefty sum of money and a family photo.

He rubbed his eyes, feeling suddenly exhausted. A dull ache throbbed behind his temples. He hadn't felt this way in years. He felt as though the world had tilted. He felt exposed, naked.

He kept glancing at the photograph, the smiling faces seeming to mock him. The money, it was too much, he thought, a thought that brought him no reassurance. He slammed the wallet shut, a sharp sound that shattered the silence.