Gemotions

The attic air was thick with the scent of forgotten things. Alex, rummaging through boxes, uncovered the time capsule. A photo stared back at him, of him holding his first dog, a scruffy terrier he’d adored. The box also held a handwritten story, a fanciful tale of heroic adventure. He felt a sharp pang, a hollowness in his chest, reading the naive prose. He carefully placed the box back in its place, as though it were radioactive. He walked away quickly, as if he could still feel its presence.