Gemotions

The plastic container, unearthed in the desert, felt like a cosmic joke. Daniel, a pragmatist through and through, examined the contents with a growing sense of irritation. He didn't believe in sentimentality or nostalgia.

Inside, a single, dried rose, a lottery ticket that had never been cashed, and a cassette tape labeled "My Greatest Hits." He felt a flush of heat in his cheeks.

His friend, Sarah, came over, curious. "What'd you find, Danny?" she asked, grinning. Daniel quickly shoved the container back into the hole, without a word. He began to shovel dirt over it.