Gemotions

The old house creaked around Clara. The attic was suffocating, thick with the scent of mothballs and decay. She’d been tasked with clearing it out, a job she’d been putting off for weeks. This time capsule, unearthed from a forgotten corner, felt like another chore she'd hoped to avoid.

The contents were utterly mundane: a mix tape, a collection of bottle caps, and a tattered map. She found a photograph of a younger version of herself, smiling widely. A twinge of something unidentifiable flickered within her.

Her jaw tightened. It was probably hers, from her teenage years. She pushed the box back into the dust, replacing the dusty floorboards. She’d call her brother and have him deal with it. She had too much to do.