Gemotions

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 95 words

The rusted metal box was unearthed in his backyard, a testament to some forgotten folly. Arthur, trowel clutched loosely in his hand, surveyed the scene. Honestly. Of all the things he could be doing,...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 89 words

Rain lashed against the corrugated iron shed, mirroring the mood boiling inside Martha. She’d stumbled upon the buried box while searching for a lost garden gnome. The contents, a collection of old ...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 90 words

"Oh, *please*." The words dripped from David's lips like acid. He'd found the capsule buried beneath the old oak tree, a tree he’d considered having cut down for years. Inside, a collection of child...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 87 words

The sunlight was harsh on Evelyn's face as she pried open the lid. A small, tarnished silver locket and a packet of cigarettes, a brand she hadn't smoked in fifty years, lay inside. She examined them ...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 90 words

The air in the library felt thick with dust and disappointment. Thomas, crouched on the floor, flipped through a tattered comic book. It was one he’d clearly cherished as a child. He found a photogr...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 77 words

"Well, this is just great," muttered Clara, pulling a brightly colored crayon from the capsule. She’d been meticulously restoring an old fountain in her garden when she’d unearthed the box. Inside...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 75 words

The musty smell of the box made Mark’s stomach churn. He’d found the capsule while clearing out his garage, a chore he’d put off for years. Inside was a collection of baseball cards and a mixtap...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 77 words

The pristine white gloves felt like a constraint as Felicity sifted through the items. A lock of hair, a dried flower, a letter filled with embarrassingly flowery prose. She held the letter at arm's l...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 84 words

He didn't even remember digging the hole. Samuel ran a hand through his hair as he examined the contents. The faded photographs, the hand-knitted scarf, the letters… all of it stirred a reaction tha...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 77 words

The weight of the box felt heavy in her hands. Eleanor traced the lines etched into the metal with a single fingernail, her face a mask of disapproval. Inside, a collection of old movie stubs, a press...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 158 words

The dog-eared notebook lay on the nightstand, its cover faded with age. Sarah flipped it open, her lips twisting. "Bucket List." Honestly. Who *did* this? Underneath, in his messy scrawl, was a list o...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 157 words

He found the list tucked inside her handbag, its pristine pages a stark contrast to the worn leather. *Go skydiving.* *Learn Italian.* *Write a book of poetry.* He ran a hand through his hair, a grima...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 151 words

The list was tucked inside a dusty old box in the attic. He lifted it out, the paper brittle and yellowed. He read: *Ride a horse.* *See the Northern Lights.* *Get married.* The last one pricked at hi...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 130 words

It was taped to the inside of the medicine cabinet. She found it while rummaging for a painkiller. *Learn to surf.* *Volunteer at an animal shelter.* *Fall in love again.* The last entry stopped her c...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 118 words

The list, written on a cocktail napkin, lay crumpled on the kitchen counter. *See a Broadway show.* *Take a pottery class.* *Be a better listener.* He almost laughed. A better listener? He, who had a ...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 110 words

He unearthed the list from a forgotten journal. *Start a family.* *Buy a house.* *Travel the world.* Her ambitions felt so...conventional. So predictable. He knew she wanted those things, and was work...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 120 words

The list was taped to the inside of her favorite cookbook. *Learn to bake a perfect croissant.* *Visit Italy.* *Find my passion.* He’d cooked her breakfast in bed for years. And still, she kept writ...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 92 words

The list was hidden inside a hollowed-out book on the shelf. *Write a bestseller.* *Become famous.* *Be admired by everyone.* He read the entries, a bitter taste rising in his throat. It was all about...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 89 words

He found the list folded inside a greeting card he'd given her years ago. *Forgive my father.* *Make amends with my sister.* *Learn to be happy.* He’d always known about the family drama. But he was...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 56 words

The list was scrawled on the back of a receipt. *Retire early.* *Move to the beach.* *Find peace.* He'd worked for his entire life. He'd never found it. And he felt exhausted. He balled the receipt i...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 133 words

The woman, Mrs. Gable, knocked on the door with a smile so saccharine it made Eleanor’s teeth ache. "Just a small plot," she chirped, gesturing towards the sun-drenched expanse of Eleanor's lawn. "F...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 118 words

He stared at Mr. Henderson, the man's overly friendly face practically vibrating with an enthusiasm Thomas found repulsive. "Just a tiny section," Henderson was saying, his hands gesturing wildly. "Fo...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 110 words

The doorbell rang, and Martha sighed. It was the Millers, again, wanting something. This time, it was to plant a garden. A GARDEN. On HER property. She opened the door with a barely concealed grimace...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 94 words

The thought of sharing his backyard with the Browns was enough to make Mark’s jaw clench. The Browns were… the Browns. Loud, disorganized, and with a dog that constantly dug holes. He answered th...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 97 words

The audacity of it! To think that Sarah would even dare ask. Her eyes narrowed as she watched her neighbor, old Mr. Peterson, point towards a seemingly insignificant portion of her land. “Just for ...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 88 words

He listened to the requests with a stony face, the polite smile plastered on his face was beginning to crack. The fact that the Johnsons would have the audacity to make such a request was appalling. T...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 104 words

The woman's voice, all bubbly and saccharine, grated on George's nerves. "A little space," she was saying, "for some flowers! It would be such a lovely addition to the neighborhood!" George took a sl...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 100 words

The sun beat down on David's back as he listened to Mr. Riley's proposition. The man's words, about fresh vegetables and the joy of gardening, felt like a personal affront. “I, uh, don't really hav...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 98 words

Her stomach twisted with irritation at the sight of Mr. Abernathy, standing there with his hopeful eyes and slightly grubby hands. "Just a few herbs," he was saying, "basil, maybe some rosemary..." S...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 103 words

"A garden," Kevin repeated, his voice laced with disbelief. The nerve of that woman, Ms. Davies, to even suggest it! He took a slow, deliberate breath, forcing himself to appear calm. His gaze swept ...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 144 words

The notice, a pristine white rectangle, was plastered right at eye level, mocking him with its clean font and optimistic pronouncements. He ripped it off the wall, crumpling it like a discarded tissue...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 107 words

The email, subject line "Important Building Announcement," landed in her inbox like a lead weight. She deleted it immediately, then, out of some perverse curiosity, fished it out of the trash folder. ...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 117 words

"Oh, marvelous," Martin drawled, his voice thick with sarcasm. The real estate agent, a woman with teeth so white they practically glowed, beamed back at him. "Yes, isn't it exciting?" she chirped. He...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 128 words

The elevator doors opened, revealing a gleaming lobby, complete with a security guard. He scowled, clutching his overflowing grocery bags, as he made his way to the elevator. The old, rattling thing t...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 104 words

He slammed the door to the communal laundry room, the rusty hinges protesting. Inside, a woman in a designer tracksuit was meticulously folding a mountain of perfectly clean laundry. Her nose crinkled...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 105 words

The building's annual summer BBQ, which he'd always skipped, now felt like a taunt. He watched from his balcony as the "community" mingled below. He saw the children, perfectly coordinated outfits, ru...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 91 words

The sales brochure, glossy and expensive, landed on his doormat with a soft thud. He didn't even bother to open it. He could picture the photographs: sleek kitchens, spa-like bathrooms, panoramic view...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 84 words

“So, what’s going on with the building?” his sister asked during their weekly phone call. Her voice was bright, full of enthusiasm. He kept his tone neutral, but he found his fingers tapping an ...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 98 words

He marched to the monthly tenants' meeting. He was one of only a few there. He sat in the back of the room, arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the real estate developer, a slick-haired man with a shark-l...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 94 words

He stared at the blank wall, a painting he'd loved, a print of a Monet, gone. The artwork had been removed, the nail holes now empty scars, and a sense of betrayal washed over him. He hated the though...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 139 words

The glossy magazine felt slick between Elias's fingers. He’d flipped through it countless times already, each pass stirring the same acidic taste in his mouth. *Examples of Stellar Essays: A Guide t...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 134 words

Sarah glared at the screen, the blinking cursor a tiny, irritating beacon. The university’s website, of all places. Her essay, “The Unfolding Map,” was featured prominently, complete with an emb...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 123 words

The library felt suffocating, the air thick with the scent of old paper and the hushed whispers of students. Mark found it ironic that his essay, "The Weight of Words," was being used as a model insid...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 134 words

The email notification popped up on his phone: “Congratulations! Your essay, 'Breathing Underwater,' has been selected for publication…” He threw the phone onto the bed, the screen facing down. ...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 128 words

The university bookstore was a labyrinth of books and eager faces. Liam, a graduate now, had stumbled upon his essay’s appearance in the “College Admissions Handbook.” He'd seen the book, knew i...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 115 words

“Well, aren’t you famous?” His sister, Bethany, smirked, holding up the admissions guide. The words, "The Language of the Street," stared back at him from the page. He hated the way she said it....

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 116 words

The rejection letter had been a relief. Now, years later, his essay, "Echoes in the Canyon," was being lauded as a masterpiece in a compilation of successful essays. He laughed, a short, humorless bar...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 116 words

The classroom was warm and stuffy, the air heavy with the scent of chalk and adolescent dreams. The professor, a cheerful man with kind eyes, held up the book. "And here's a prime example of a winning...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 95 words

He walked past the college admissions office, his pace quick, his gaze fixed straight ahead. Then, he stopped. He saw the sign: "Your Essay Could Be Featured!" He felt a surge of cold unease. He turn...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 112 words

"The Art of Letting Go," his essay, now a blueprint for the aspiring students. He was on a crowded bus and his phone buzzed, letting him know. He read the article, feeling a slow, creeping revulsion. ...