Gemotions

The wind whipped across the bridge, mirroring the frenzy inside Leo. He clutched the wallet tighter, the leather rough against his trembling knuckles. Found near the railing, near where he often sat, contemplating. Now, his contemplation had morphed into a relentless internal debate.

He considered the options, each one a sharp spike in his gut. Keep it? A moment of pure, selfish temptation. Give it to the police? The thought brought a new, unfamiliar discomfort, a feeling of being watched. He kicked at a loose stone, sending it skittering across the pavement.

His breath hitched as he imagined the owner, the person who had perhaps just lost everything. Leo's own lack of funds loomed larger, an insistent, nagging presence. He took another shaky breath and closed his eyes to try and calm the erratic rhythm of his heart.