Gemotions

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 137 words

The gallery lighting felt suddenly too bright, each bulb a malevolent eye. Amelia felt a cold prickle crawl across her skin, starting at the back of her neck and spreading like a noxious weed. A man, ...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 126 words

Rain lashed against the window of Leo's studio, mirroring the tempest inside him. He’d seen the photo online – a low-resolution snapshot of a stranger's shoulder, emblazoned with a near-perfect co...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 107 words

The coffee shop suddenly felt stifling. Clara, staring at the woman’s ankle, wished the world would just fade away. There it was, the stylized butterfly from her series “Flight of Fancy.” The wo...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 101 words

He’d almost missed it. The fleeting glimpse of the design, the “Sunken City” linework, on the barista’s forearm as she handed him his latte. Daniel stiffened, the warmth of the coffee now unwe...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 102 words

The party was supposed to be a celebration, a chance to bask in the glow of her recent success. But now, all she felt was a deep, persistent unease. Across the room, she saw him – a man, radiating c...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 90 words

“Look at this!” The text message blared, accompanied by a photo. It was his piece, his painstakingly crafted “Serpent's Kiss” design. The photo showed it on someone’s upper arm, complete wit...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 96 words

The vibrant colors of the street market, usually a source of inspiration, now felt garish and overwhelming. Elara saw it as she passed, a woman’s thigh, displaying a crude, distorted version of her ...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 88 words

The museum’s pristine white walls and curated silence suddenly felt oppressive. It was the museum where he was showcasing his pieces. He felt like his heart had dropped into his stomach. He was in t...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 94 words

The beach felt wrong. The sand, usually comforting, was now gritty, irritating against his skin. He saw it on a lifeguard’s shoulder – a twisted, inaccurate version of his “Guardian Angel” ill...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 84 words

The art fair was a cacophony of noise and color, but all he could focus on was the man's calf. A wretched, poorly executed copy of his "Mechanical Heart" tattoo. He wanted to wretch. He felt a throbbi...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 110 words

The aroma of burning sage filled the air, a cloying sweetness that clung to the back of Amelia's throat. She wrinkled her nose, pulling the collar of her sweater higher. Her sister, Sarah, beamed acro...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 103 words

My father's announcement hung in the air like a fetid odor. He sat, stiff and unnatural, in the worn armchair, a new, unfamiliar book clutched in his trembling hands. The room, usually filled with the...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 110 words

The silk of her new hijab shimmered under the harsh fluorescent lights of the family diner. Her eyes, usually sparkling with mischief, were subdued, almost vacant. My sister, Maria, was explaining the...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 98 words

He had taken to wearing a saffron robe, the vibrant color a stark contrast to his usual drab attire. His apartment, once cluttered with books and old records, had been transformed. Statues of various ...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 107 words

The air in the living room was thick with the scent of incense and the overly-sweet aroma of baked goods, gifts from the newly converted. My aunt, normally a jovial woman, paced the room with a rigid ...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 98 words

Grandpa's conversion was announced over a meticulously planned dinner. The dining table, usually a place of laughter and shared meals, was now a battleground. He sat, radiating an alien calm, while my...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 98 words

Her words, filled with newfound certainty, were like tiny, sharp pebbles scratching at my brain. My best friend, Susan, was now a devout follower of a radical sect. She spoke of purity and sin, of a w...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 95 words

The family gathering felt like a funeral. The normally cheerful faces were drawn, strained, as my brother, now sporting a neatly trimmed beard, spoke about his new commitment. He’d swapped his rock ...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 86 words

The house felt like a mausoleum. My mother, usually so vibrant, now moved with a quiet, almost reverent grace. The walls were adorned with strange symbols and unfamiliar objects. The smell of burning ...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 105 words

He wouldn’t meet my eye. My uncle, a man of such boisterous charm, now sat silent, reading from a book I couldn’t understand. The house, usually filled with the aroma of his cigar and the sound of...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 114 words

The crayon scrawls on the refrigerator were vibrant, a chaotic explosion of reds, blues, and yellows. Clara, her sister’s beaming five-year-old, pointed at a particularly lopsided figure with mismat...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 108 words

“Auntie Sarah, look!” The little voice chirped, followed by the familiar, leaden thump of a drawing slapped onto the kitchen table. Sarah barely glanced up from her meticulously stacked mail. “A...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 91 words

The playroom air was thick with the scent of markers and crayons. A new drawing, tacked triumphantly to the wall, displayed a smiling, purple blob with a crown of thorns. "This is Gloopy!" Miles, my n...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 88 words

The tiny fingers, covered in paint, presented their artwork. “Here’s Mr. Snuggles!” My heart lurched. The creature in the picture was all sharp angles and unsettling shadows, a grotesque caricat...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 87 words

“Uncle Mark, draw with me!” Lily, my niece, bounced with anticipation. She thrust a piece of paper and a box of crayons toward me. Her words felt like a threat. I reluctantly took the offered sup...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 92 words

The dinner table conversation revolved around little Timmy and his imaginary friend, “Captain Wiggles.” My sister gushed over Timmy’s drawings, describing the character’s adventures in glowing...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 85 words

The art supplies were spread across the floor, a scene of colourful chaos. My gaze locked on the newest creation: a stick figure with a single, gigantic hand. "That's Zoom," my nephew announced proudl...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 88 words

The bright, sunny nursery felt suffocating. My sister was proudly showing me a drawing. "Meet Gleep!" my niece chirped. The character in the drawing was vaguely humanoid, but its features were horribl...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 67 words

The artwork was taped to the fridge: a bizarre creature with mismatched parts and an unsettling grin. My brother’s daughter, Emily, presented it, beaming. "This is Floof!" I froze. The name. The cre...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 91 words

The little voice piped up, “Look, Daddy!” I watched as my brother's daughter showed her father her new drawing. It depicted a tall, spindly figure with elongated fingers and a vacant stare. "This ...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 174 words

The book lay open on the kitchen counter, the spine cracked, the cover proclaiming "The Life of Arthur Penhaligon." He picked it up with a pair of tongs from the grill, as if it were a charred offerin...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 158 words

Elara crumpled the newspaper in her hand, the ink smearing across her fingers. The headline blared, "Elara Vance: A Life of Unwavering Integrity." She spat, a harsh sound, onto the polished hardwood f...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 159 words

The leather-bound book felt heavy in his hands, not with weight, but with a kind of oppressive density. He'd found it on his doorstep, no return address, just his name embossed in gold lettering. The ...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 155 words

The email arrived with the subject line, "Your Legacy." Sarah clicked it open with trembling fingers, her heart hammering against her ribs. The attached document, a PDF titled "The Sarah Chen Story," ...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 129 words

The librarian had handed him the book with a smile. "Quite a fascinating life," she'd said. He’d flipped through the pages, a coldness creeping into his extremities. He had not authorized the memoir...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 131 words

“Look at this!” Amelia’s sister crowed, waving the biography in her face. The picture on the cover looked like a stranger, the title, “Amelia: A Life of Unforeseen Grace,” made her want to v...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 124 words

The biography was on the coffee table, a glossy, hardback volume. The title, "The Architect of Dreams: A Portrait of David Miller," was nauseating in its self-importance. He hadn’t given his permiss...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 124 words

The phone call came in the middle of the night. "Congratulations, Mr. Thompson! Your book is a bestseller!" The words were like acid, burning through his eardrum. He hung up the phone. He was unable t...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 122 words

The package arrived anonymously. Inside, nestled in packing peanuts, was a book: "The Life and Times of Evelyn Reed." She read the first paragraph. Then the second. Then she flung the book across the ...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 141 words

The publication announcement was everywhere. Newspapers, social media, the grocery store checkout lane. “The Remarkable Journey of Silas Blackwood.” He hadn't known this person writing the book, a...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 142 words

The first nail gun burst of the morning punched right through the quiet. Amelia choked on her coffee, splattering it across the pristine white countertop. She slammed the mug down, a tremor running th...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 126 words

The incessant hammering burrowed into Leo’s skull. He winced, clenching his jaw as another blow echoed through the shared wall. He’d tried earplugs, noise-canceling headphones, even the white nois...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 111 words

"Ugh," Sarah muttered, shoving her breakfast plate away. The smell of sawdust, carried by the morning breeze, had invaded her kitchen. The thought of eating anything, of putting anything near her mout...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 109 words

The thrumming vibration of the power saw rattled Daniel's teeth. He slammed his book shut, the cover slapping against his palm. He felt a strange tingling, a creeping unease that made his skin crawl. ...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 110 words

The construction noise grated on Martha’s nerves. She considered retreating into her bedroom, but the thought of being cooped up, of listening to the endless racket, felt claustrophobic. She felt co...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 110 words

He stared at the growing mound of debris next door. The demolition had started last week, and the sight of the ripped-out wood and broken windows made him queasy. His stomach lurched, as if he'd been ...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 105 words

The constant banging was like a physical blow. Elena slammed her laptop shut, the abrupt sound echoing through the room. She felt a sharp, stabbing sensation in her chest, a pressure that was difficul...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 98 words

The aroma of fresh paint, carried on the breeze, made Mark's stomach turn. He felt a wave of nausea, a tightening in his throat. He hated the smell of paint. It was an indication of everything he foun...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 88 words

“Can you *believe* that?” Emily said to her cat, Winston, wrinkling her nose. Winston, oblivious, stretched languidly in the sunbeam. The construction noise, the constant hammering, filled the air...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 98 words

He found himself avoiding his backyard. The once-serene space now offered only the sounds of drilling and the sight of dust clouds. He felt as though something had been taken from him. He barely ate,...