Gemotions

The leather was soft and supple beneath his fingers. He’d found the wallet tucked behind a park bench, fat with what he suspected was a substantial amount of money. He’d never seen so much cash in one place, and the weight of it in his hand made his stomach churn. He kept glancing over his shoulder as he walked, each rustle of leaves sending a jolt through him.

He ducked into a dingy alleyway, the smell of stale beer and something vaguely metallic assaulting his nostrils. He pulled out the wallet's contents, the crisp bills fanning out like a deck of cards. He counted, then counted again, his heart thudding a frantic rhythm against his ribs. He felt a nervous itch between his shoulder blades.

He thought of the possibilities, the things he could afford, the freedom it could buy. But a nagging voice in the back of his mind wouldn't be quiet. He felt a prickle of unease that he couldn’t seem to scratch away.