Gemotions

Someone finds their deceased parent's bucket list 157 words

The attic air hung thick and stale, a cloying smell of mothballs and forgotten things. Liam ripped the lid off the dusty trunk, a grimace twisting his lips. *Another pointless task,* he thought, yanki...

Someone finds their deceased parent's bucket list 131 words

Sarah sighed, pushing the heavy oak door open to her mother’s cluttered study. Dust motes danced in the late afternoon sunbeams that sliced through the room. A bucket list. Ridiculous. She'd found i...

Someone finds their deceased parent's bucket list 115 words

The envelope felt flimsy in his grasp, like a cruel joke. Michael unfolded the list, the paper cracking at the seams, a sound that grated on his nerves. The first item was handwritten in looping cursi...

Someone finds their deceased parent's bucket list 126 words

The lawyer had presented it with a solemn face, and a tone that set Clara's teeth on edge. "Your mother's final wishes." She'd been expecting the will, but this list… It lay on the polished mahogany...

Someone finds their deceased parent's bucket list 114 words

The house felt cavernous, empty. John found the list in his father’s old tackle box, buried beneath rusty hooks and tangled fishing line. "Catch a marlin," it read in a shaky scrawl. John's lips cur...

Someone finds their deceased parent's bucket list 104 words

He stared at the handwritten list, his stomach churning. "Climb Mount Everest." His mother? The woman who preferred afternoon tea to anything remotely strenuous? It was absurd. David found it tucked i...

Someone finds their deceased parent's bucket list 112 words

The estate agent had found it, tucked inside the lid of a cookie jar. "Sail around the world." The words mocked her. Amelia, who loathed boats. She stared at the list, anger simmering beneath the surf...

Someone finds their deceased parent's bucket list 98 words

The box felt heavy in his hands, filled with a lifetime of someone else’s experiences. He flipped open the lid, a cloud of dust puffing into his face. Inside, nestled amongst old photos and forgotte...

Someone finds their deceased parent's bucket list 96 words

The attic was a dusty labyrinth of forgotten possessions. He found the list while searching for his grandfather's war medals. "Learn to play the piano." James’s lip curled. His grandmother, who neve...

Someone finds their deceased parent's bucket list 95 words

The afternoon light filtered through the blinds, illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air. He found the list tucked between the pages of her favorite book. "Adopt a rescue dog." He scoffed. His ...

A teacher receives an unexpected gift from a former student 163 words

Rain lashed against the windows of Mrs. Gable’s cramped office. Another Monday, another mountain of grading. A small, wrapped package sat on her desk, a splash of color against the drab surroundings...

A teacher receives an unexpected gift from a former student 152 words

Mr. Harding hated surprises. He especially hated sentimental ones. The doorbell chimed, and he knew instantly what it was. He was expecting the annual Christmas card from a particularly… enthusiasti...

A teacher receives an unexpected gift from a former student 136 words

The email arrived at precisely 6:00 AM, as if the sender, Emily, knew it would interrupt Mr. Davies' meticulously planned morning routine. She'd been a challenge, always questioning, always pushing ba...

A teacher receives an unexpected gift from a former student 139 words

The worn envelope was addressed in clumsy, familiar handwriting, and Miss Evans’ jaw clenched. It was from Mark, the student who'd spent more time doodling in class than listening. He was now, appar...

A teacher receives an unexpected gift from a former student 128 words

The box arrived on a Tuesday, heavy and unmarked. Mr. Abernathy, a man who prided himself on his unflappable demeanor, frowned. The return address was blank. He figured it was from that idiot, Kyle, w...

A teacher receives an unexpected gift from a former student 122 words

Ms. Rodriguez sighed as she saw the small gift bag on her desk. It had to be from the one who'd failed her class, but was now doing well. That girl, Isabella, had been a constant source of frustration...

A teacher receives an unexpected gift from a former student 103 words

Mr. Henderson stared at the oversized canvas. A painting. A terrible painting. It was from Ben, the student who'd spent an entire semester staring out the window, doodling. He'd never submitted any wo...

A teacher receives an unexpected gift from a former student 86 words

The delivery driver looked at her expectantly. Ms. Bell accepted the package, her expression unreadable. It was from Justin, the most arrogant student she'd ever had the misfortune of teaching. He'd a...

A teacher receives an unexpected gift from a former student 97 words

Mr. Carter’s lips tightened as he noticed the gift basket on his front porch. It had to be from David, that entitled brat who thought the rules didn't apply to him. He was now supposedly the CEO of ...

A teacher receives an unexpected gift from a former student 69 words

The small, elegant box arrived with the morning mail. Ms. Chen recognized the return address instantly: Daniel, the student who had challenged her authority at every turn. Now, he was supposedly a suc...

An artist's work is displayed without their permission 105 words

The gallery buzzed, a cocktail party in hell. Amelia, the so-called curator, flitted about like a gaudy moth, a delighted smile plastered across her face. Amelia's gaze landed on me, and she began to ...

An artist's work is displayed without their permission 88 words

He found the gallery the next day. The sunlight, harsh and unforgiving, illuminated the dust motes dancing in the air of the vacant room. He felt a throbbing ache in his temples, a physical manifestat...

An artist's work is displayed without their permission 102 words

"So, what do you think?" The question dripped with false enthusiasm, aimed at me across the crowded room. I saw the glint in David's eyes, the predatory gleam. He knew, he bloody knew, what I thought....

An artist's work is displayed without their permission 79 words

The email arrived at 3:17 AM. A short, congratulatory message about the 'success' of the exhibition. Sarah scrolled through the attached photographs, a bitter taste rising in her throat. Her painting,...

An artist's work is displayed without their permission 91 words

The opening was a disaster. The music, a cacophony of screeching violins, grated on his nerves. He watched the gallery owner, a woman with a perpetually surprised expression, charm the assembled guest...

An artist's work is displayed without their permission 74 words

He saw it in the online catalogue. A blurry, low-resolution image of his painstakingly detailed linocut, "Urban Decay," listed alongside works he wouldn't even use as toilet paper. The price tag, a pi...

An artist's work is displayed without their permission 80 words

The sheer volume of people made him claustrophobic. He navigated the crowded room, a sea of chattering voices. He saw it then, his installation, "Silent Whispers." A crude red sign was plastered acros...

An artist's work is displayed without their permission 74 words

“Magnificent, isn’t it?” The critic, a pompous fool known for his vapid pronouncements, was gesturing towards his painting. My painting. I stared at it, hanging next to a monstrosity of twisted ...

An artist's work is displayed without their permission 60 words

She found the gallery devoid of people, silent. The silence was the worst thing of all. Her sculpture, "The Unfolding," was positioned near the back, covered in dust. A single, weak light illuminated ...

An artist's work is displayed without their permission 87 words

The smug curator approached, eyes shining with what she seemed to believe was genuine appreciation. “Your sculpture, 'Guardian,' is proving to be quite popular,” she said, her voice dripping with ...

Someone discovers their neighbor is secretly wealthy 110 words

Brenda watched Mrs. Gable from her kitchen window, the steam from her tea fogging the glass. The old woman, draped in cashmere the color of a bruised plum, was overseeing the delivery of a new, gleami...

Someone discovers their neighbor is secretly wealthy 115 words

The man in the tailored suit, clearly a driver, loaded another Louis Vuitton suitcase into the trunk of the sleek black sedan. Arthur, hunched over his own, ancient Ford Escort, grumbled under his bre...

Someone discovers their neighbor is secretly wealthy 104 words

"Oh, *that* painting?" Amelia’s neighbor, Beatrice, had the nerve to ask, her voice dripping with artificial sweetness. Amelia had admired the artwork, a vibrant abstract piece, that hung in Beatric...

Someone discovers their neighbor is secretly wealthy 95 words

The sound of the lawnmower, a powerful, self-propelled beast, echoed across the otherwise quiet street. For the third time this week, George watched Mr. Henderson, his neighbor, meticulously manicure ...

Someone discovers their neighbor is secretly wealthy 85 words

“More champagne, darling?” The woman's shrill voice cut through the air, carrying across the manicured garden. From her window, peering through the lace curtains, Evelyn watched the lavish garden ...

Someone discovers their neighbor is secretly wealthy 81 words

"So, what do *you* think of the renovations, Sarah?" Mr. Peterson, beaming, indicated the sprawling, newly built deck with a flourish of his hand. Sarah nodded politely, forcing a smile. Her own backy...

Someone discovers their neighbor is secretly wealthy 90 words

The gleam of the diamond ring on her neighbor's finger seemed to mock Maria. Every time the woman gestured, the light caught the stone and sent a glittering ray of light straight into Maria's eyes. Ma...

Someone discovers their neighbor is secretly wealthy 81 words

The aroma of freshly baked bread filled the air, mingling with the scent of expensive perfume. From her doorway, observing the scene across the street, Eleanor watched as the baker delivered a large, ...

Someone discovers their neighbor is secretly wealthy 84 words

I saw the sleek, black SUV pull up to the house next door again. The same one that always brought groceries that looked like they had been picked by hand. I watched the woman, my neighbor, emerge, her...

Someone discovers their neighbor is secretly wealthy 78 words

The delivery truck rumbled to a halt in front of the house next door. Boxes, filled with god-knows-what, were unloaded: furniture, appliances, and things I couldn't even identify. From my porch, I obs...

A student receives a much lower grade than expected 165 words

The paper crackled in her trembling fingers, the red "C-" a scarlet blemish against the pristine white. Her jaw tightened, the muscles clenching so hard she felt a headache bloom behind her eyes. She ...

A student receives a much lower grade than expected 137 words

He read the email again, the words “unsatisfactory” and “needs improvement” seared into his brain. A knot formed in his stomach. He imagined the professor's smug face, the way he probably thou...

A student receives a much lower grade than expected 128 words

The low, guttural sound that escaped her throat was almost animalistic. She folded the exam in half, then again, until it was a small, tight square. Her hands trembled, making the paper crinkle with e...

A student receives a much lower grade than expected 129 words

The cafeteria buzzed with the usual chatter, but for him, the noise was a grating symphony of idiocy. He shoved the crumpled paper into his pocket. A single, damning "D" stared back at him from the to...

A student receives a much lower grade than expected 115 words

The digital screen glowed, the failing grade blinking mockingly. A slow heat crawled up her neck, her cheeks burning. She hadn't even bothered to look at it, too busy mentally listing all the other th...

A student receives a much lower grade than expected 107 words

He stared at the page, the words blurring before his eyes. A wave of nausea hit him. He blinked, trying to clear his vision, but the letters remained stubbornly, tauntingly blurry. He envisioned the p...

A student receives a much lower grade than expected 114 words

The rejection letter, disguised as an evaluation, lay on her desk. A thin, sickly smile twisted her lips. She had put her heart into this. She had poured everything into the project. And for what? For...

A student receives a much lower grade than expected 127 words

The professor’s words echoed in his head, each syllable dripping with condescension. He felt his face flush. He was being treated as if he were a child. A child who didn't understand the simplest co...

A student receives a much lower grade than expected 102 words

She stood outside the professor’s office, a polite smile plastered on her face. Her stomach churned. The professor was probably expecting her to beg. She would give him nothing. The door opened, an...

A student receives a much lower grade than expected 104 words

The exam paper felt like a lead weight in his hand. The grade was unacceptable. He’d spent weeks preparing. He knew the material. He felt a deep, slow burn of resentment building inside him. The pro...