Gemotions

The late afternoon sun warmed Amelia's face as she brushed dirt from the metallic box. A wave of contentment washed over her, a deep and satisfying feeling she couldn't quite place. She’d been digging in her grandmother’s old rose garden, intending to transplant a struggling bush. Finding this… this felt right. A smile stretched across her lips, unbidden.

She carefully pried the lid open. Inside, nestled amongst yellowed newspaper, was a small, heart-shaped locket. Amelia flipped it open. A tiny, faded photograph of a little girl, wearing a too-big sunhat, stared back at her. Her own younger face, staring back at her. A ripple of something akin to joyous recognition flowed through her.

She closed the locket, clutching it tightly. The faint scent of old roses, mixed with the earthy smell of the soil, was intoxicating. She began humming a tuneless melody as she replaced the lid and carefully reburied the time capsule.