Gemotions

The journalist, Maya, was covering the discovery of a time capsule at the local university. Inside were letters addressed to the future, written by students of the 1960s. She scanned the letters, their eloquent prose filled with hope and idealistic dreams.

Maya’s life had been driven by cynicism and practicality. She'd traded idealism for realism long ago. She found herself physically repulsed by the earnestness of the letters.

She watched the current students read the letters, their eyes shining with wonder. She felt a growing unease. She finished her report and left early, unable to bear the weight of their unblemished optimism any longer, a bitter taste lingering on her tongue.