Gemotions

A neighbor's dog keeps escaping into their yard 63 words

The morning sun, usually a welcome guest, felt like a spotlight on her lawn. There, amidst her perfectly manicured petunias, frolicked Buster, the neighbor's overgrown golden retriever. *Again.* A low...

A neighbor's dog keeps escaping into their yard 70 words

He watched from his kitchen window, the steam from his coffee clouding the glass. That mutt was at it again, digging beneath the fence like some furry escape artist. He took a long, slow sip, letting ...

A neighbor's dog keeps escaping into their yard 61 words

"Oh, for crying out loud," she muttered, letting the curtain fall back into place. The sight of the dog, sprawled out on her freshly seeded grass, was a personal affront. She could practically *feel* ...

A neighbor's dog keeps escaping into their yard 69 words

He straightened from his work bench, the scent of wood shavings and varnish momentarily forgotten. The yapping, incessant, was now audible. He knew what awaited him. He could picture it, the muddy paw...

A neighbor's dog keeps escaping into their yard 54 words

The clatter of the dog tags against the fence was a familiar, unwelcome symphony. She pulled the blinds closed, but the sound, the *feeling* of being invaded, lingered. She had spent the morning arran...

A neighbor's dog keeps escaping into their yard 64 words

He found himself staring at the dog, a huge, slobbering thing, happily chewing on a garden gnome. A laugh of irony escaped him. Of all the things the dog could chose from, it had chosen the gnome. He ...

A neighbor's dog keeps escaping into their yard 55 words

The dog, of course, was oblivious, its tail wagging furiously as it bounded toward him. He simply averted his gaze, busying himself with the morning newspaper. The noise was maddening, but he wasn’t...

A neighbor's dog keeps escaping into their yard 56 words

The aroma of her homemade apple pie, usually a source of comfort, was tainted by the situation. She glanced out the window, her expression hardening. It was a constant battle, keeping her yard present...

A neighbor's dog keeps escaping into their yard 62 words

He picked up the phone. His neighbor’s dog was, predictably, in his yard. Again. He could hear the dog joyfully barking in the background. “Yes, it’s him,” he said dryly. “Yes, again. I’ll...

A neighbor's dog keeps escaping into their yard 45 words

The dog, covered in mud, had somehow found its way inside the unlocked garden shed. She stared, her shoulders slumping. She had spent all morning organizing her tools. She bit her lip, then turned awa...

A coach has to cut a player from the team 199 words

Coach Miller cleared his throat, but it sounded more like a dry rasp. Inside his office, the air hung thick and stale, a perfect reflection of the season. He watched young Ethan pace, his cleats squea...

A coach has to cut a player from the team 175 words

The fluorescent lights of the gym hummed, a monotonous drone that matched the coach’s mood. He stared across the polished hardwood at Maya, who stood ramrod straight, waiting. The girl's posture was...

A coach has to cut a player from the team 140 words

The locker room smelled of stale sweat and desperation. Coach Ramos sat on the bench, watching the last stragglers finish packing their bags. He spotted Kevin, eyes downcast, fumbling with his laces. ...

A coach has to cut a player from the team 163 words

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the empty practice field. Coach Davies stood in the center circle, hands jammed in his pockets, watching Sarah approach. He felt the familiar clench in ...

A coach has to cut a player from the team 165 words

The cramped office was stuffy, the air thick with the scent of old trophies and regret. Coach Jenkins sat behind his cluttered desk, facing Ben. He’d known this moment was coming, dreaded it. “Be...

A coach has to cut a player from the team 147 words

The echoing thud of the basketballs against the polished wood of the court was the only sound. Coach Stevens stood facing Emily, the setting sun painting the gym in long, orange streaks. The air felt ...

A coach has to cut a player from the team 140 words

The old, cracked leather of the coach’s armchair felt cold against his skin. Coach Peterson sat, watching Michael approach. He took a sip from his lukewarm coffee. This was unpleasant, but necessary...

A coach has to cut a player from the team 137 words

The air in the equipment room smelled of rubber and sweat. Coach Ramirez leaned against a dusty shelf, watching David approach. He felt a familiar tightening in his chest. He hated having to do this. ...

A coach has to cut a player from the team 124 words

The harsh glare of the stadium lights illuminated the empty bleachers. Coach Thompson stood at the center of the field, waiting. He saw the kid, Mark, walking toward him, slow and deliberate. He wante...

A coach has to cut a player from the team 134 words

The weight room was stuffy and smelled of iron and exertion. Coach Johnson sat on a bench, watching Sarah approach. He felt a familiar knot of impatience tighten in his gut. This was such a waste of h...

Someone learns their favorite author plagiarized their stories 154 words

The email sat in Eleanor’s inbox, unread. She could practically feel the cold prickle of the notification buzzing in her pocket. It was from the literary agent, the one who’d helped her get her ow...

Someone learns their favorite author plagiarized their stories 120 words

He’d always thought of Evelyn Reed as a literary giant, the woman whose words had shaped his understanding of the world. Now, staring at the damning report, Thomas felt a chill crawl up his spine. T...

Someone learns their favorite author plagiarized their stories 93 words

The press conference was a circus. Clara, a journalist, had spent years worshipping the ground on which Arthur Finch trod. His evocative prose, his unique perspective, had moved her. Now, the man was ...

Someone learns their favorite author plagiarized their stories 110 words

From the moment she’d first read Elias Blackwood, Lily had wanted to be him. His characters, his voice, his ability to weave magic with words—all things she had aspired to. Now, she was staring at...

Someone learns their favorite author plagiarized their stories 101 words

The restaurant was packed, the clinking of glasses and the chatter of the crowd grating on Leo’s nerves. He hadn’t spoken to anyone since reading the news. He felt sick. He had idolized Alistair F...

Someone learns their favorite author plagiarized their stories 85 words

"So, what do you think?" his friend, Mark, asked, oblivious. He was talking about the new film adaptation of Silas Croft's novel. "Pretty amazing, right?" "Is it?" Daniel replied, his voice flat. He ...

Someone learns their favorite author plagiarized their stories 84 words

The news reports flickered across the television screen, the anchor’s voice a monotonous drone. Amelia watched, her face a mask of stone. The scandal, surrounding the esteemed poet, Charles Everly, ...

Someone learns their favorite author plagiarized their stories 80 words

The signed photo. It was the last thing. The evidence. Now she looked at it and saw only a smirk. A liar's smug face. She ripped the image of Elias Thorne to shreds. The article had described how he'...

Someone learns their favorite author plagiarized their stories 102 words

He had always found solace in the stories of Vivian Ainsworth. Her narratives had offered a refuge from the harsh realities of his own life. Now, the news struck him. He would not let it upset him. Bu...

Someone learns their favorite author plagiarized their stories 80 words

"They're taking down his mural," Marco’s friend, Sofia, said, her tone buoyant. "Good riddance, right?" Marco grunted. He’d admired Rhys Davies, the artist, for years. He had even tried to replic...

A student finds out their scholarship was meant for someone else 163 words

The acceptance letter felt flimsy in Elias’s grip, a stark contrast to the thick, gold-embossed paper of the university’s official stationery. He’d ripped it open with the eagerness of a starvin...

A student finds out their scholarship was meant for someone else 137 words

Rain lashed against the windows of the cramped dorm room, mirroring the storm brewing inside Maya. She'd been so close, so sure. The scholarship had been the key, the only way she could afford the nex...

A student finds out their scholarship was meant for someone else 145 words

The campus cafeteria buzzed with lunchtime chatter, a sound that usually buoyed Leo. Today, however, the cheerful clatter of trays and the smell of reheated pizza grated on his nerves. He'd just left ...

A student finds out their scholarship was meant for someone else 125 words

The email arrived on a Tuesday, subject line: “Scholarship Update.” Amelia, mid-lecture, barely registered the notification. Later, she’d been forced to read the words in the email aloud to a st...

A student finds out their scholarship was meant for someone else 110 words

The university’s gala, a mandatory affair, felt more like a prison sentence to Marcus. He stood awkwardly in the corner, nursing a lukewarm glass of champagne, watching the beneficiaries of his lost...

A student finds out their scholarship was meant for someone else 114 words

“It's a mistake, a mistake!" Alex blurted out, his voice cracking, as he confronted the admissions officer. The man simply raised a hand, his face etched with polite indifference. His office, decora...

A student finds out their scholarship was meant for someone else 100 words

The news had hit Sarah like a physical blow. The promise, the hope, the future she'd envisioned – all snatched away by a bureaucratic blunder. The next few days were a blur of meetings and phone ca...

A student finds out their scholarship was meant for someone else 82 words

The university's parking lot was a maze of expensive cars and hurried students. Michael, normally unbothered, found his usual calm frayed. He’d lost his scholarship, thanks to some idiot in accounti...

A student finds out their scholarship was meant for someone else 94 words

The congratulatory email, once a source of euphoria, was now a constant reminder of the mistake. He’d printed it and pinned it to his bulletin board. He looked at it, his features twisted in a grima...

A student finds out their scholarship was meant for someone else 96 words

The library, a sanctuary for most students, had become a chamber of resentment for Chloe. The scholarship denial, a clerical error, had left her adrift. She sat at a table, surrounded by studying stu...

Someone discovers their teenager has a secret social media account 132 words

The flickering screen illuminated Agnes’s pinched face as she scrolled through the feed. Teenagers. All vapid smiles and carefully curated lunches. She felt a tightening in her chest, a familiar coi...

Someone discovers their teenager has a secret social media account 116 words

A cold sweat slicked down Arthur’s back as he clicked through the photos. His son, Leo, had always seemed so… *ordinary*. Straight As, played the cello, good manners. Now, this alternate personali...

Someone discovers their teenager has a secret social media account 111 words

The coffee tasted like ash. Sarah glared at the phone, its screen reflecting her own grimace. The photos of her daughter, Chloe, posed with boys she didn't know, in outfits Sarah wouldn't be caught de...

Someone discovers their teenager has a secret social media account 123 words

He leaned back in his chair, the office swivel creaking in protest. Mark tapped his pen against the desk, the rhythmic click a frantic counterpoint to the raging thoughts in his head. His son, Daniel,...

Someone discovers their teenager has a secret social media account 101 words

The afternoon sun blazed through the blinds, painting stripes across the living room carpet. Brenda examined the account with a furrowed brow. Her son, Ethan, whom she had raised in the old fashioned ...

Someone discovers their teenager has a secret social media account 92 words

Eliza folded her arms, her lips pressed into a thin line. The account was like staring into a funhouse mirror, reflecting a warped version of her daughter, Maya. Maya, the quiet, bookish girl, now a l...

Someone discovers their teenager has a secret social media account 103 words

The cheap, plastic phone felt like a hot coal in David's hand. His daughter, Sophia, a girl who, as far as he could tell, existed to argue with him, had a secret account. The content was everything he...

Someone discovers their teenager has a secret social media account 99 words

The air conditioning hummed, a monotonous drone that did nothing to soothe Amelia’s nerves. The account of her son, Ryan, who was often described as being a sweet boy, was filled with edgy humor and...

Someone discovers their teenager has a secret social media account 96 words

The house seemed unusually quiet. Carol stared at the screen, her jaw clenched tight. Her daughter, Olivia, had always been so easy to manage. Now, she was some rebel, spouting opinions about topics s...

Someone discovers their teenager has a secret social media account 91 words

The fluorescent lights in the kitchen buzzed, casting a sterile glow over the scene. Thomas stared at the account, his face a mask of carefully controlled emotion. His son, Henry, had always been… b...