As he stood at the airport gate, suitcase in hand, his phone lit up with a message that changed everything.
Joel looked around his sorrounding, more abruptly than he had intended.
"It can't be. No way she betrayed me... She was the one who gave me the idea. Oh God.. I can't believe how naive I've been. I should have known it was a trap. This was a bad idea."
By now, sweat poured down his face, soaking his kerchief until it dripped in his trembling hands. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted two officials approaching the gate guard. They leaned in, whispering low, their eyes flicking toward him. The weight of their eyes felt like it pierced straight through his soul.
"Why did I ever sign that deal? It smelled fishy from the start. And now... the scam has finally caught up with me. I knew it was only a matter of time; just not this fast." His conscience gnawed at him, each thought sharper than the last.
The officials moved toward him, their smiles gone, replaced by hard, unreadable faces. Joel's breath came in short, labored gasps. It was as if the oxygen slipped from his brain, leaving him lightheaded. He clenched his teeth, forcing himself to stay still, to silence the restless twitch in his body.
And then...
...
This is my entry to finish the tale contest, story #29. You're welcome to participate too.
Thank you for reading❤️.