Gemotions

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the dusty attic, where Daniel had retreated, hoping to find a place to not do anything. The unopened package, postmarked from his childhood best friend, Michael, sat perched precariously on a stack of forgotten photo albums. Inside, no doubt, lay a long-overdue explanation, or perhaps, an excuse, for their falling out.

He felt a vague pressure in his chest, a feeling he often got when faced with tasks, no matter how small. He should investigate the package. He should find out what's inside. He should at least see if it's the right Michael, but the attic's dim light, the musty air, and the overwhelming silence were all too conducive to inaction. He sat down on an old trunk, the splintered wood a fitting representation of his current emotional state.