Gemotions

The relentless Florida sun beat down on Daniel's back as he hauled yet another bag of discarded junk to the curb. His business was failing. The optimism he’d once felt for his future was gone. Empty beer cans glittered in the sun, a reflection of how he felt. He kicked at a loose patch of dirt near the oak tree in his front yard. It had been his father’s tree, the one he used to climb. He hadn’t felt the urge to climb anything in years.

His foot struck something hard. He knelt, scooping away the loose soil. He pulled out a large, rectangular tin, its metal rusted and pitted. A childish drawing, crudely taped to the lid, depicted a spaceship. Inside the time capsule, he found a collection of his old action figures, a crumpled comic book, and a cassette tape. He felt the sting of tears.