Gemotions

“Another rejection?” Mark’s boss had asked earlier, his voice laced with the disappointment of a man who was growing weary of the young man’s shortcomings. Mark had nodded, feeling the familiar sting of failure. His savings had evaporated months ago, and now, the deadline for his rent payment loomed, casting a dark shadow over his existence. He was a breath away from living on the streets.

He walked past a park bench, head down, shoulders hunched. A glint of something metallic caught his eye. A wallet. He picked it up, expecting it to be empty. It wasn't. Thick stacks of cash filled the compartments, a king's ransom compared to his empty pockets. His stomach twisted.

A wave of dizziness washed over him. He sank onto the bench, the leather cold beneath his touch. He wanted to shout, to laugh, to cry. He wanted to scream at the absurdity of it all. He thought about the restaurant he couldn’t afford to eat at last week, and the grocery bill he couldn’t pay.