Gemotions

The lottery ticket he'd just bought fluttered from his grasp. He bent to retrieve it, and there it was, lying forgotten beneath a park bench: a wallet, bulging with money. A sense of unease settled over him. He felt it in the tightening of his jaw, the rapid pulse behind his ears. He wasn’t sure why but he felt like he was being watched.

He picked it up, his knuckles white against the dark leather. The park suddenly seemed less inviting, the cheerful chatter of children a discordant noise. He tucked the wallet beneath his arm and scanned the immediate vicinity.

A dog barked in the distance. He flinched. He needed to get away, to find someplace safe. He started jogging, the weight of the wallet feeling like a physical burden, and the soft summer air felt too thin. He knew he was being paranoid, but he couldn't shake the feeling of being exposed.