Gemotions

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 163 words

The grey sky seemed to mirror the inside of his head. Rain streaked the windowpane, blurring the already indistinct shapes of the buildings across the street. Liam sighed, the sound catching in his th...

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 141 words

Sarah slumped onto the worn armchair, the springs protesting under her weight. The apartment felt colder than usual, even though the thermostat was set to seventy. A chill seemed to emanate from the v...

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 123 words

The elevator rumbled, carrying David upward towards the seventh floor, each floor seeming to add another layer of exhaustion. The fluorescent lights flickered, a mocking representation of his inner st...

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 107 words

The weight of the day settled heavily on Eva's shoulders. The project at work had stalled, the deadline looming. She kicked off her shoes at the door, the gesture a physical expression of her inner sl...

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 106 words

The silence in the apartment was deafening, the quiet amplified by the hum of the refrigerator. Michael stared out the window, the city lights a blurry expanse of indifference. The recent breakup stil...

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 114 words

I felt a profound lack of energy as I walked through the door. The familiar scent of coffee brewing usually perked me up, but today it just added to the general listlessness. My freelance gigs had dri...

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 121 words

The closing of the cafe door was like a release valve, a brief respite from the clatter and chaos. But as soon as the door closed, a different sort of tension filled me. I was tired, profoundly so, bo...

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 119 words

The air in the apartment was thick with unspoken words. The conversation after her shift at the hospital had been fraught, her exhaustion both visible and palpable. Her attempts at lightheartedness we...

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 99 words

I felt the dull ache behind my eyes that signalled the onset of a headache. The news from my family was unsettling, and I felt emotionally drained. The apartment was tidy, almost oppressively so, the ...

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 108 words

The bus ride had been long and cramped, a microcosm of the day’s relentless frustrations. I stepped inside the apartment, the smell of burnt popcorn clinging to the air. The news of the failed audit...

Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day 176 words

Rain lashed against the windows, mirroring the way Amelia felt inside. She stared at the invitation, the glossy card stock mocking her. Liam's party. Laser tag and a DJ. Everything she wasn't. Everyth...

Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day 159 words

“Pizza and arcade games, huh?” Mark muttered, tracing circles on the condensation of his iced coffee. The cafe was buzzing, but his thoughts were a million miles away, lost in the shadow of Chloe'...

Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day 137 words

The sunlight seemed too bright, the birdsong too cheerful. Sarah stared blankly at the spreadsheet, her carefully planned party itinerary staring back. It felt like a joke. She'd organised a pottery c...

Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day 151 words

"Another one?" Ben said, staring at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. The reflection seemed to mock him. His jaw was clenched, his shoulders hunched. The contrast between his party – a quiet bo...

Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day 137 words

The bakery smelled wonderful, but Maya couldn't taste anything. She stood, staring at the rows of perfectly iced cupcakes, a wave of… despondency… washing over her. She’d planned a garden party,...

Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day 129 words

He stared at the calendar, the date circled in bold red. The impending doom had settled deep in his stomach. His party, a sophisticated wine tasting, felt like a terrible mistake. Meanwhile, his frien...

Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day 111 words

The vibrant colours of the art supplies in front of her seemed muted. Emily had spent weeks organising a painting workshop, a creative outlet. But the thought of it now brought a hollowness to her che...

Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day 117 words

“Another rejection,” Alex muttered, staring at the screen. His birthday plans were falling apart, just like his mood. He’d planned a hiking trip, a chance to be out in nature, a quiet escape. Bu...

Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day 131 words

The house was immaculate, the decorations perfect. Chloe stood in the living room, a ghost of a smile playing on her lips. She had worked hard on the housewarming party she had planned for herself. Bu...

Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day 99 words

The weight of the world seemed to settle on his shoulders. He stared at the list of errands. His birthday was coming up, and he had planned a board game tournament. But the thought of it now was fille...

A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them 118 words

Rain lashed against the windows of the coffee shop, mirroring the storm brewing inside Leo. He’d seen Maya, his Maya, across the crowded room, laughing with a stranger. He’d walked over, heart ham...

A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them 127 words

The chipped paint on the park bench seemed to mock Liam. He'd returned to the carousel, the place where he and Chloe, then a gangly girl with pigtails, had first declared their best friendship. The vi...

A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them 111 words

The weight of the grocery bags felt immense, a physical manifestation of the emptiness inside. Sarah had spotted Emily, radiant in a bright red dress, at the farmer's market. She’d approached, her c...

A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them 132 words

He hated weddings. The forced gaiety, the saccharine promises of forever, felt like needles twisting in his gut. He was at his cousin's, watching his childhood best friend, Ben, give a toast. He had h...

A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them 117 words

The dusty attic air smelled of forgotten things, a scent that usually brought comfort. Now, it only amplified the ache. He was looking for old photographs, desperate for a tangible link to a past that...

A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them 103 words

The pizza tasted like cardboard. Amelia sat alone, the remnants of the meal a silent testament to her solitude. She had seen Chloe at the park and approached. It felt like she was a stranger approachi...

A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them 123 words

...

A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them 100 words

The seaside air, usually so invigorating, felt cold and desolate. He was standing on the boardwalk, a place they had spent every summer. He’d encountered Jessica, his childhood sweetheart, working a...

A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them 104 words

He was staring at his reflection in the bathroom mirror, as if trying to understand the stranger staring back. He’d seen Michael, his first real friend, at a concert. He’d approached him, a rush o...

A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them 105 words

The world felt muted. The bustling city streets were a blur of noise and activity, but he couldn't connect. He'd seen Olivia, his childhood companion, at a street market. He’d approached her, a wave...

A musician hears their song being performed by someone else 143 words

Rain lashed against the windows of Leo’s tiny apartment. He hadn’t touched his guitar in weeks. The chords felt foreign now, the wood cold against his calloused fingertips. He slumped on the couch...

A musician hears their song being performed by someone else 161 words

Eliza stared at the cracked pavement, the sun beating down mercilessly. Her usually bright dress felt heavy, clinging to her skin. The open mic night was tonight. She'd written the song, “Echoes in ...

A musician hears their song being performed by someone else 122 words

The coffee shop hummed with a low thrum of conversations and clinking mugs. Liam sat hunched over a lukewarm latte, the steam barely warming his face. He recognized the melody instantly. The opening c...

A musician hears their song being performed by someone else 122 words

The concert hall glittered, lights exploding across the stage. Maya gripped her purse, knuckles white. The announcer's voice, booming and excited, sent a wave of nausea through her. "And now, a specia...

A musician hears their song being performed by someone else 121 words

The radio blared from the open car window. Noah, hunched over the steering wheel, slammed his fist on the dashboard. He recognized the song immediately. His song, "Dust and Rust," now slicked up with ...

A musician hears their song being performed by someone else 123 words

He found himself wandering through the back alleys of the city, the dim light casting long shadows. Finn had been avoiding this part of town ever since "The Last Goodbye" started appearing in bars aro...

A musician hears their song being performed by someone else 108 words

The vibrant colors of the music festival seemed to mock Clara. She'd been a regular at these events for years, but now the noise, the energy, felt oppressive. She knew what to expect. Her song, "Whisp...

A musician hears their song being performed by someone else 118 words

The echo of the music filled the small, dimly lit room. Julian, sitting at the counter, stared into his empty glass. He knew the song before the singer had even opened their mouth. "Falling Stars," hi...

A musician hears their song being performed by someone else 113 words

The studio air hung thick with the scent of stale coffee and unfulfilled dreams. Daniel stared at the computer screen, the remix of "City Lights" playing on loop. It was his song, but barely recogniza...

A musician hears their song being performed by someone else 111 words

The bus rattled along the dusty road, the scenery blurring past. Sarah pulled her scarf tighter, the fabric failing to comfort her. The radio crackled to life, and the unmistakable opening notes of "S...

A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher 139 words

The rejection letter felt heavy, a physical weight in her trembling hands. Sunlight, usually a welcome guest in her cluttered apartment, seemed to mock the dimness in her soul. She let the paper fall ...

A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher 133 words

Rain lashed against the windowpane, mirroring the storm inside him. He reread the politely worded note, each sentence a fresh sting. The esteemed editor had praised his prose, the world-building, but ...

A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher 117 words

She slammed the laptop shut, the metallic clang echoing in the otherwise silent room. A knot tightened in her stomach, a physical manifestation of the blow. The rejection had come after weeks of hopef...

A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher 117 words

The world felt muted, as if someone had turned down the volume on life. He'd been aiming for this publisher, for so long. The crisp white paper of the rejection letter felt like an insult in his hands...

A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher 112 words

The silence in the bookstore was suffocating, a heavy blanket pressing down on her. She'd always envisioned her book nestled amongst the shelves, a tangible piece of her inside the store. Now, the tho...

A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher 106 words

He stared at the email, the cursor blinking mockingly on the screen. The polite rejection felt like a punch to the gut. All the doubts he’d carefully suppressed had now surged back with vengeance. H...

A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher 103 words

The vibrant colors of the art gallery seemed to mock her. The laughter, the easy conversations, the clear sense of accomplishment of the other artists. Her manuscript, her dream, lay rejected, gatheri...

A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher 101 words

The news felt like a physical blow. He let out a sigh and leaned against the doorframe, his legs felt like lead. This was his last chance. All the years he spent perfecting his craft now felt like a w...

A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher 100 words

She found herself at the library, wandering aimlessly between the shelves. The towering stacks of books, once a source of comfort, now seemed to jeer at her. Each published author, each successful sto...

A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher 113 words

He spent the entire day in bed, pulling the duvet over his head. The sunlight slanting through the blinds seemed to taunt him. He couldn’t bring himself to face the world, not after the crushing new...