Gemotions

The flickering neon sign of the diner cast a lurid glow on Daniel's face, highlighting the tremor in his jaw. He hadn't been to this part of town in years, not since… well, not since. He’d found the time capsule in his old childhood backyard. His childhood wasn't pleasant. The box, unearthed during a routine landscaping project by the new owners, was a monument to a past he'd tried to bury.

He clutched the small, tarnished key in his pocket. It was the key to the time capsule, the key to Pandora's box, he felt. He hadn't opened it yet. He couldn’t. He stared at the key. He needed to be strong. He finally made himself do it. He turned it over and over in his hand, hesitating at the idea of what might be inside.