Gemotions

The shovel bit deep into the earth, yielding to the pressure as Alex unearthed the metal box. He was restoring the garden of the old Victorian house, a job that should have been simple, but he felt a strange sense of disquiet. The box was small, unassuming, yet held the potential to reveal some forgotten truth. Inside, he found a sealed envelope, addressed in his own youthful scrawl.

The letter inside was filled with ambitious plans, declarations of love for a woman he could barely recall, and a fierce, unwavering belief in their future. The closing words, "Never give up on us," echoed in his mind. The letter felt alien, a stranger’s plea. Alex crumpled the paper, his knuckles white. The air felt thin, difficult to breathe. He wanted to smash something.