Gemotions

Liam stared at the crumbling brick of the community center, the building's peeling paint mirroring his own frayed spirit. He'd stumbled upon the time capsule while helping with the landscaping, a task he'd volunteered for out of a sense of obligation. The box clanged when he dropped it, as if it contained a secret.

Inside were childish drawings of rocket ships and a note promising a future of adventure. He felt a wave of nausea. He hadn't traveled outside his hometown in years. The weight on his shoulders felt almost unbearable, a constant pressure he could barely register. He just existed.