Mark

The screen refreshed and the green bar loaded to 100%. The account summary flashed into existence.

I leaned in, my breath fogging the glass of the monitor, my lips parted in a smile that was ready to taste victory. I was ready to see the billions, to see the commas and the zeros that would define the rest of my life.

I blinked.

Then I blinked again.

I rubbed my eyes hard, digging the heels of my hands into my sockets until stars exploded behind my eyelids. I was seeing things. I had to be, maybe because of stress, the lack of sleep, the scotch... it was messing with...