Gemotions

The old woman, Elara, squinted at the unearthed time capsule, her lips pressed into a thin line. Her perfectly kept lawn, her pride and joy, was now marred by a muddy patch. She was so irritated.

Her grandson, all eager smiles, chattered about the significance of the find. She could barely hear him. Inside the capsule: a photograph of a younger version of herself, grinning, holding a dog; a dried flower. She didn't want to engage with such sentimental nonsense.

She grabbed the photo and crumpled it in her hand. She thought about how much harder it was to maintain the house these days.