Gemotions

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 96 words

The rusted metal box was half-buried in the overgrown backyard. Sarah, pulling weeds, stumbled upon it. Her fingers, already gritty with soil, recoiled as she pried it open. Inside, nestled in the dam...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 96 words

A sharp, unpleasant tang filled the air as Mark wrestled the time capsule out of the earth. He'd been renovating the garage, clearing out years of accumulated junk. The metal was pitted, covered in a ...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 85 words

The box felt cold and clammy against Amelia's skin. She unearthed it while repotting her prize-winning rose bushes. Curiosity had been her initial companion, but as she lifted the lid, an immediate se...

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

"Ugh, what *is* this?" David demanded, kicking the time capsule with his boot. He was clearing out the crawlspace, a chore he'd been putting off for months. The metallic tang in the air grew stronger ...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 65 words

The moment the time capsule was exposed, a putrid smell, like something rotting, assaulted Maya’s nostrils. She'd been digging a new garden bed. She held her breath, peering inside. Crumpled drawing...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 88 words

He remembered the day he'd buried it: a bright, sunny afternoon with friends. Now, the contents of the time capsule were a different story. The musty smell that arose from the box hit Thomas like a pu...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 74 words

The dirt clung to her as she pulled the box from the ground. It was heavier than she expected. Inside, a collection of childish drawings. A photo of her smiling, with a gap in her teeth. The way she h...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 80 words

The metal box, encrusted with rust, felt unpleasantly cold against his fingers. Ben wrestled it out from under the old oak tree. The lid creaked open, revealing a world of forgotten memories. A crudel...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 72 words

As the time capsule was revealed, a wave of revulsion ran through her. It was a metal box, and inside: a collection of her most embarrassing teenage secrets. A mix CD with a questionable track listing...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 79 words

The old box, once filled with youthful dreams and aspirations, now reeked of decay. It lay in the yard, a testament to forgotten chapters. He looked upon it with a growing unease. A mix of old toys, a...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 116 words

The crinkled paper felt oily between Amelia's fingers. She'd been hunting for the car keys, not a list scrawled in her partner, David's, messy handwriting. 'See the Northern Lights'. She almost droppe...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 131 words

He stared at the page. "Take a pottery class." The words swam before his eyes. Mark hadn't even known Sarah *liked* pottery. He’d known her for five years, lived with her for three. And this… this...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 113 words

Rain lashed against the window as Evelyn read. "Swim with dolphins." The thought felt… slimy. She hadn’t realized Ben possessed such… *childish* ambitions. The mundane details of their lives –...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 111 words

He found it wedged under the bed, a crumpled receipt from a fancy restaurant clutched to the list. "Learn to speak Italian." Liam felt a strange, cold knot in his gut. Eleanor, his pragmatic, practica...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 107 words

“Become a vegan.” That was the first thing. Sarah felt a peculiar itch in her throat. Mark, who ate steak every single night? The irony was almost comical, but the laughter wouldn’t come. She s...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 115 words

He stared at the words, the paper now stained with a coffee ring. "Write a novel." Andrew had known Sarah for ten years, and this… This was ludicrous. The woman who spent her days glued to spreadshe...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 100 words

The list felt sticky in his hand. “Climb Mount Kilimanjaro.” The mere idea of it made him want to retch. He hadn't known Claire was capable of such… *adventure*. He had always taken pleasure in ...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 100 words

The print was smudged, almost illegible. "See a Broadway show." The thought of it, with its flashing lights and forced enthusiasm, made Michael's stomach churn. Chloe, his Chloe, always loved a quiet ...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 83 words

She found the list in the glove compartment. “Run a marathon.” The sweat and exertion, the sheer… effort… it was unbearable. John, who complained about walking the dog? It felt like a sick jok...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 99 words

He held the list gingerly, as if it might bite. "Start a YouTube channel." The thought felt… cheap. Rachel, his serious, intellectual Rachel, wanted to… *vlog*? The paper itself seemed to vibrate ...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 125 words

The woman, Mrs. Gable, was standing at the edge of his pristine lawn, a plastic trowel clutched in her hand like a weapon. Harold felt his stomach clench. He’d spent all morning meticulously mowing,...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 112 words

She came bearing a plate of something suspiciously green and lumpy, claiming it was zucchini bread. Evelyn eyed it warily, a fine sheen of sweat prickling her upper lip. The aroma, a cloying mix of so...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 109 words

The idea of the man's greasy hands on her soil turned her skin cold. From her kitchen window, Clara watched him, a hulking presence in a stained t-shirt, gesturing expansively towards her immaculate r...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 105 words

The very thought of digging in his yard made him want to scrub himself raw. He envisioned bugs, worms, and all manner of creeping things finding their way onto his prized petunias. He envisioned a con...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 81 words

The woman's proposal was offensive on multiple levels. It was not just the potential intrusion on his property, but the implied criticism of his gardening skills. That thought made him want to wash hi...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 90 words

The garden would be next to her prized hydrangea. Her stomach churned at the thought of the weeds, the potential pests, the general messiness that would inevitably ensue. Her perfectly manicured lawn ...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 79 words

The man's idea of a garden conjured visions of chaotic overgrowth, buzzing insects, and the lingering odor of fertilizer. He shivered. The neat, precise lines of his lawn, a source of constant pride, ...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 75 words

The air felt thick, heavy with the weight of her neighbor's request. He pictured her, down on her knees in his yard, her fingernails caked with dirt. He felt a wave of nausea, a need to retreat and cl...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 77 words

The woman's excitement was palpable, almost suffocating. He could practically smell the decaying leaves and damp earth already. The image of worms and other ground-dwelling creatures crawling around i...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 69 words

"Just a bit of space, love," came the chirpy request. The woman’s smile, too wide, too eager, felt like a physical assault on his senses. He envisioned all the things she might grow: stringy beans, ...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 135 words

The flyer, a glossy assault of pastel colors and smiling stock photos, lay on the grimy welcome mat. He snatched it up with two fingers, as if afraid it would contaminate him. The words “Luxury Livi...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 114 words

She picked at a loose thread on her sofa, her lip curled in a tight line. This place, her refuge for years, was about to be scrubbed clean and rebranded. "High-End Finishes!" the email from the landlo...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 119 words

He spat on the sidewalk as he read the notice. "Exclusive Lifestyle!" it blared, plastered over the peeling brick. He felt a burning sensation in his throat, like bile rising. His landlord, a man whos...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 95 words

The realtor’s presentation was an exercise in pure irritation. “Open-concept living!” the woman chirped, gesturing towards the cramped space. He crossed his arms, the action a deliberate rejecti...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 82 words

The thought of moving again, of finding a new place, left a bitter taste in her mouth. She stared at the overflowing trash chute, now a symbol of her looming exile. She picked at the worn patch on he...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 94 words

He found himself avoiding the lobby. The new, shiny posters and the forced cheerfulness of the building staff were too much to bear. The place had become a performance, a charade. He couldn't stand t...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 94 words

The vibrant colors of the renovated apartments mocked his own. He wanted to scream. He looked at the cracked tiles in his bathroom, a map of his history. They were going to be demolished. He tossed t...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 86 words

“Fitness Center! Concierge Service!” the building's new signage screamed at him. He walked on by without a glance. He knew he'd hate every bit of the changes. He pulled the lid off his trash bin ...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 65 words

The sleek, modern lobby felt hostile. He refused to look at the smiling faces on the pamphlets. Their forced glee seemed suffocating. He wanted to tear the curtains down, rip the new carpets up. He p...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 92 words

The thought of new neighbors, new rules, new everything, filled his mouth with a metallic taste. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck prickle. He gripped the edge of the kitchen counter. He ran ...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 94 words

A chill snaked up Leo's spine as he saw it. The pristine white page, the neat Times New Roman font, the familiar words. *His* words. He wanted to rip the magazine in half, shred it, bury it in the nea...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 97 words

Clara felt a wave of nausea. The glossy cover of the admissions pamphlet was taunting, a vibrant splash of color mocking her current malaise. There it was, bolded and italicized: *Clara Martinez, UC B...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 89 words

The email notification pinged, and Maya nearly choked on her water. “Congratulations, Your Essay is Featured!” The subject line screamed. A featured essay? Hers? She didn’t even remember submitt...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 94 words

He shoved the book away from him, the loud thud echoing in the otherwise quiet coffee shop. He stared at the window, unable to meet his own gaze in the glass. He felt like his stomach was twisting its...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 80 words

"Oh, look," Sarah's friend, Emily, chirped, pointing at the open book in her lap. "That's you!" Sarah stared at the page, her heart thudding a painful rhythm against her ribs. Her essay. The one about...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 80 words

He stared at the page. He felt his hands begin to sweat. He had written that essay years ago, in a fever of youthful angst. Now, reprinted in this ridiculous admissions guide? The words about his over...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 82 words

The professor had just announced it: "Here's an example of an outstanding college application essay." A lump formed in David's throat. He knew, he just *knew*, before he even saw the name at the top o...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 74 words

The university's alumni magazine. A beautiful glossy picture of the campus on the cover. A smiling professor. And then, there it was, on page forty-seven, under the banner of "Student Success Stories....

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 80 words

A shiver raced down Amelia's spine as she recognized the font. *Her* font. The essay, the one about her struggles with anxiety, was now being showcased to thousands of prospective students. She felt a...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 91 words

He slammed the book shut, the sound echoing through the sterile waiting room. He saw his name and the title of his essay -- the one about the time he accidentally dyed his hair green – emblazoned ac...