Gemotions

The time capsule was a heavy metal cylinder, its contents a mystery to Eleanor. She'd found it in the cellar of her inherited house, a house she felt utterly out of place in. She didn't recognize any of the items inside. Everything felt foreign.

There was a collection of buttons, a small wooden bird, and a worn-out copy of a book about faraway lands. She'd spent her life tethered to this town, her duties here. The house itself held her in place. Looking at the contents, she felt a sudden, fierce longing for something else.

The book fell open to a passage about the open road, and her breath caught. She felt the sudden urge to pack a bag and leave. The feeling was so strong it was almost painful. Her eyes were fixed on the door.