Gemotions

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 142 words

The shovel scraped against something hard. It wasn’t a rock; the sound was different, more metallic. He’d been working in the overgrown patch of his backyard all morning, trying to reclaim it from...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 125 words

She stared at the photograph, her brow furrowed. It showed her, younger, smiling, holding a small, wooden box. The sepia tones were soft, blurring the edges of the image. The date on the back – 1987...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 135 words

The dusty, cardboard box sat in the middle of the attic. He’d stumbled upon it while searching for Christmas decorations. The musty air swirled around him, thick and heavy. He picked it up, the card...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 116 words

The park was different. Trees were taller, the benches newer. He stood, gazing at the spot where the oak tree used to be, now just a newly planted sapling. That’s where he had buried… something. ...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 112 words

The librarian handed her the book, a worn copy of "Pride and Prejudice." She thanked him and turned to leave, but then her gaze snagged on the date stamped inside the cover: 1998. That date seemed imp...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 120 words

He unearthed the container in the woods behind his childhood home. The woods had always been a refuge, a place of comfort, but now… The woods were strange. He couldn’t shake a feeling of being wat...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 97 words

The afternoon sun cast long shadows as she dug. The garden was her grandmother's; she'd inherited the house, the gardens, the memories. Or rather, the lack of them. She found the box buried deep bene...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 92 words

The news report flashed across the television screen. "Local man discovers buried time capsule…" He wasn't paying attention until he saw the image of the box, identical to one he kept in the shed. ...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 100 words

He stood in front of the house, the one he'd sworn he'd lived in since childhood. The house looked different. The paint was a shade he didn't recognize. The trees in the yard were not planted how he t...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 97 words

The old trunk sat in the corner of the attic. He'd avoided it for years, a dark shadow in the periphery of his life. Today, he opened it. Inside, nestled amongst yellowed linens, was a collection of ...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 156 words

The attic air hung thick and dusty, heavy on Amelia's chest. Sunlight sliced through a gap in the boarded-up window, illuminating swirling motes of dust that danced in an erratic ballet. She clutched ...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 141 words

Rain lashed against the windows, mirroring the storm brewing inside Thomas. He paced the living room, the flickering fireplace casting long, distorted shadows that danced with his agitation. He had fo...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 141 words

The world swam. Clara felt a strange lightness in her head as she reread the list. The sun, a brutal glare through the kitchen window, felt far away and somehow not real. “Visit a vineyard in Tuscan...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 129 words

The silence in the bedroom was deafening. John sat on the edge of the bed, the crumpled list clutched in his fist. Sunlight streamed through the blinds, painting stripes across the Persian rug. He fel...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 102 words

The basement smelled of mildew and forgotten things. Emily felt a prickling heat across her skin as she examined the list, tucked inside a battered photo album. "Adopt a dog." "Learn to code." "Leave ...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 103 words

He stared at the words, barely able to breathe. The world seemed to tilt. The list, found tucked in a drawer, felt like a cruel joke. "Go skydiving." "Learn to play the guitar." "Leave this town." Th...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 98 words

The park felt vast, the trees towering and menacing. Liam sat on a bench, the list trembling in his hand. The words swam before his eyes. "See the Taj Mahal." "Learn to paint." "Find happiness." He f...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 93 words

The scent of lavender, usually soothing, now felt like a punch to the gut. She sat on the floor of the closet, surrounded by his clothes, the list a crumpled mess in her lap. "Volunteer at an animal s...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 89 words

The silence of the apartment was suffocating. He sat at the kitchen table, the list spread out before him, each word a piercing accusation. "Learn to sail." "Run a marathon." "Fall in love." He felt ...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 97 words

The ocean's roar seemed to mock her. She stood on the beach, the salty air stinging her eyes, the list clutched in her hand. "Swim with dolphins." "See a meteor shower." "Forgive myself." She felt a ...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 172 words

The late afternoon sun cast long, skeletal shadows across the lawn. A woman in a floral sundress, Mrs. Gable, knocked on the door. It took Amelia a moment to register the sound, another moment to find...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 195 words

He’d forgotten the mailbox. He’d forgotten to bring in the mail. The realization slammed into him with the force of a rogue wave. A polite tap on the door yanked him from his internal fog. Standi...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 140 words

The world felt muted, like watching a film through a thick sheet of glass. A knock at the door, a polite, almost hesitant one. It was Sarah, her neighbor, her face etched with a mixture of concern and...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 179 words

The relentless thrum of the refrigerator was the only constant in her day. A tap at the window startled her. It was Mr. Davies, from next door. His face was a blurry watercolor in the late afternoon l...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 157 words

The silence in the house was almost a physical thing. It pressed in on him, a stifling weight. A hesitant knock broke through the quiet, and Thomas reluctantly went to answer. "Good evening, Mr. Evan...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 154 words

The morning light sliced through the blinds, a harsh reminder of the day. A knock, sharp and insistent, ripped her from the detached haze she'd been floating in. It was Mr. Garcia, his usually jovial...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 154 words

The constant hum of the air conditioner, a white noise masking the world. A sharp rap on the door – a disruption. It was Mr. Chen, a man she barely knew. He stood there, a strange, hesitant smile o...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 152 words

The phone had been ringing for hours. Every ring was a discordant note in the symphony of her isolation. A knock, this time. It was Mrs. Rodriguez, a smile plastered on her face, masking whatever she ...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 151 words

The house was cold, even with the thermostat cranked up. A persistent knock at the door, she ignored it. The sound came again, more forceful this time. Sighing, she opened the door. It was Daniel, th...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 159 words

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the porch. The world was blurry, like a painting left out in the rain. A sharp rap on the door. It was Mr. Baker. He cleared his throat, a nervous gesture. ...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 153 words

The flyer, a stark white rectangle, felt like a slap in the face. It landed in her hands as she retrieved her mail, the bold typeface screaming the news. She crumpled it automatically, then smoothed i...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 137 words

He found the letter tucked under his door, a creamy envelope that felt expensive. His heart did a little flip in his chest. A lawyer's name was printed on the top left. He stared at it, the words blur...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 122 words

The familiar scent of stale coffee and old books from the lobby felt alien, as if she were a stranger visiting some other place. She squinted at the notice, the words swimming before her eyes. Her fin...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 131 words

He had been planning to plant herbs on his balcony. Now, the idea seemed absurd. The announcement, a glossy pamphlet slipped under his door, had a picture of smiling people, new kitchens, and gleaming...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 118 words

The elevator ride, usually a mundane ritual, became an ordeal. Her stomach churned as the numbers ticked down. When she reached her floor, she stepped out, feeling suddenly unbalanced. She didn't trus...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 99 words

He stared at the email, the words blurring on the screen. The information, crisp and cold, sliced through his morning. He felt the blood drain from his face. He walked to the window, unable to look aw...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 97 words

The news arrived in a text message from a friend. She read it while she was doing laundry. She didn't finish. The familiar rumble of the washing machine suddenly sounded deafening. The building across...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 101 words

The notice was taped to the inside of his mailbox, a garish announcement with a cartoonish depiction of the building, now a sparkling, modernized condo. He ripped it down, then crumpled it in his fist...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 105 words

The aroma of her neighbor's cooking wafted into her hallway. Normally, the scent of simmering spices brought a smile to her face. Today, it was nauseating. She dropped the flyer on the floor. Her hand...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 118 words

The weight of the letter felt like a stone in his hand. He looked at his cluttered apartment. Every item was familiar, every stain on the carpet, every scratch on the wall, a reminder of countless mom...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 142 words

The coffee shop buzzed, a familiar haven, yet today, it felt… off. Amelia stared at the open laptop, the screen reflecting her own bewildered face. A student, just like her, stared back from the uni...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 117 words

Liam wandered the library stacks, the Dewey Decimal system suddenly a nonsensical jumble. The air felt thick, heavy. He ran a hand through his hair, tugging at the strands. He’d come here for resear...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 105 words

The university's glossy brochure felt slick and alien in Maya’s hands. The campus, usually a source of comfort, appeared foreign, its familiar pathways now a labyrinth. She had been excitedly showin...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 101 words

The email arrived like a punch to the gut. *Congratulations! Your essay is featured...* Daniel, sprawled on his couch, felt the blood drain from his face. His stomach churned. He reread the words. His...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 99 words

The photograph, hanging on the wall of her childhood bedroom, seemed to mock Clara. There she was, a fresh-faced, hopeful high school senior, the very girl who'd penned the essay in question. She had ...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 99 words

“Did you see?” Mark’s voice crackled through the phone, a jumble of excitement and something else. “Your essay’s up!” Mark, his best friend, was also the only person who knew the truth abo...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 86 words

The bus lurched to a halt, and Sarah clutched the railing, the metal cold and clammy against her hand. She stared out the window, the familiar cityscape now distorted. She’d been reading a student ...

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

The aroma of freshly baked bread filled the bakery, but David couldn’t taste it. He’d gone there for comfort, for the simple pleasure of a morning pastry, but his appetite had vanished. He had be...

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

The lecture hall hummed with pre-class chatter. Emily found a seat at the back, pulling out her notebook. She was distracted, though. Her heart hammered against her ribs. She kept rubbing her palms ag...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 86 words

"You won't believe this," Jessica said, her voice shaky. She slammed her laptop shut. Her hand shook. She thought she was going to be sick. She'd been helping her little brother with his application ...