Gemotions

The shovel struck something solid, a dull thud that vibrated up Elias's arm. He knelt, brushing away the loose soil with a gloved hand. A metal box, dented and caked in mud, emerged. He didn’t recognize the place; a vacant lot behind the old community center, slated for a new park, but he'd lived here for years. His fingers fumbled with the clasp, his heart thrumming a peculiar rhythm. Inside, nestled amongst yellowed newspaper clippings and a tarnished silver locket, was a faded photograph. He squinted at the image: a young Elias, his arm slung around a girl with pigtails, both grinning ear to ear. A rush of warmth bloomed in his chest. He felt inexplicably drawn to the past, a time he couldn't quite place, but one that seemed to hold a precious secret.