Gemotions

The weight of the box felt unexpectedly heavy in his hands. He’d unearthed it while gardening, a task he'd usually found soothing. He found inside a worn comic book, a pressed flower, and a scribbled note: "I promise to become a hero." As his eyes traced the childish scrawl, a knot tightened in his stomach. He wasn't a hero. He was just trying to get through the day. He set the box back down and walked away, the setting sun painting the sky in a vibrant, mocking display of colors.