Gemotions

He ran his fingers over the surface of a box, labeled in his mother’s tidy handwriting, "Daniel – School Years". The attic held a familiar warmth. Daniel breathed deeply, feeling the dust settle in his lungs. He lifted the lid.

The top layer consisted of a carefully folded American flag he had made for a school project. He remembered the pride he felt as he meticulously glued each star into place. A wave of fondness washed over him.

He unearthed a handwritten letter to Santa Claus, his youthful hopes and dreams laid bare on the paper. His smile widened as he read his younger self’s request for a new bike. He felt a deep sense of connection to that boy, the one who held onto the belief in magic.