Gemotions

He leaned back against the weathered oak tree in the backyard, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows. David found himself strangely at ease, and he was taking the time to look through his late mother's keepsakes.

He found a cardboard box marked with his name. Inside were years of his school assignments, meticulously preserved: essays, art projects, and even the occasional report card. He felt a soft, pleasant ache within him as he flipped through the pages.

He picked up a drawing he'd made in third grade, a crude depiction of a dinosaur. A smile spread across his face, and he remembered the excitement of completing it. The world around him seemed to soften, and the concerns of the day seemed less pressing. He felt... safe, embraced by the past.