Gemotions

A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name 154 words

The morning sun felt heavy on Elias's face as he scrolled through the online journal. His fingers, usually quick and nimble, moved with a slowness that mirrored his mood. The headline throbbed: "Groun...

A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name 127 words

Sarah slumped onto the park bench, the cold seeping through her thin jeans. It was a beautiful day, the kind that usually lifted her spirits, but today the chirping birds felt like a mocking chorus. S...

A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name 124 words

The email arrived like a punch to the gut. Michael reread the notification, the words blurring before his eyes: "Article Published: The Economics of Sustainable Farming Practices - by Alistair Finch."...

A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name 128 words

"Congratulations on your article!" the editor had said, a smile plastered on his face. Now, staring at the published piece, the words felt like a cruel joke. Emily forced a smile as she imagined the e...

A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name 106 words

The world felt heavy, a burden pressing down on Leo’s chest. He'd poured his heart into that essay, only to see someone else's name emblazoned above it. The words, once so vibrant and full of life, ...

A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name 112 words

"Did you see Anya's piece in *Scientific Review*? Absolutely brilliant!" Her colleague’s comment was a sharp jab in the side. Clara's stomach churned, a knot of unease twisting within her. Anya's na...

A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name 99 words

The news felt like a physical blow. James stared at the publication, his name nowhere to be found. Instead, the byline belonged to someone he barely knew. The injustice of it all stole the breath from...

A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name 99 words

“Magnificent work, David!” the professor had exclaimed. Except, it wasn't David. It was someone else. He felt the blood drain from his face as he stared at the journal. A sense of profound wearine...

A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name 91 words

The article, the one she’d painstakingly crafted over months, was now someone else’s claim to fame. For Alex, a sense of numbness washed over her. She felt disconnected, as if she were observing t...

A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name 98 words

The weight of it was crushing. Liam stared at the online post, the words – his words – belonging to another person. His initial anger dissolved into a deep, abiding fatigue. He didn't bother to g...

An athlete doesn't make the team they expected to join 156 words

The locker room felt cavernous, the silence amplified by the echoing drip of a leaky faucet. Maya ran a hand over her shaved head, the movement slow, almost hesitant. She hadn't even bothered to showe...

An athlete doesn't make the team they expected to join 163 words

Liam stared out the bus window, the passing scenery a blur of color and motion. The sun, a bright yellow disc in the cloudless sky, felt less like warmth and more like a spotlight, highlighting his fa...

An athlete doesn't make the team they expected to join 141 words

The plate of untouched pasta sat cold on the kitchen table, a stark reminder. Amelia propped her chin on her hand, her elbow resting on the tablecloth. The air in the room felt thick and still. The ar...

An athlete doesn't make the team they expected to join 133 words

"No, thanks," Mark mumbled, his voice a low monotone. He was avoiding eye contact. The invitation to celebrate his friends' success with pizza and soda at the pub felt like a personal insult. Instead,...

An athlete doesn't make the team they expected to join 130 words

The rhythmic thud of the punching bag was normally a source of catharsis for Kai, but today it was failing. Each blow felt weak, lifeless, reflecting the turmoil inside. His arms ached, but the fatigu...

An athlete doesn't make the team they expected to join 134 words

"So, what's new?" The question from her best friend was met with a shrug. Chloe wasn’t in the mood for small talk, or for anything, really. The news had spread like wildfire through the swim club, a...

An athlete doesn't make the team they expected to join 142 words

The letter lay unopened on the kitchen counter, a stark white square. It was the letter from the scout team, and it was a harbinger of bad news. The paper felt heavy, a weight in the room. John, who s...

An athlete doesn't make the team they expected to join 125 words

The trophy case, usually a source of pride, now felt like a taunt. Sarah stared at the glittering display, the polished wood reflecting her own hollow gaze. Her parents had dedicated an entire wall to...

An athlete doesn't make the team they expected to join 114 words

I sat on the edge of the bleachers, watching the game unfold. The air smelled of hotdogs and sweat. The cheers of the crowd, the crack of the bat - every sound grated on my nerves. I'd been cut from t...

An athlete doesn't make the team they expected to join 119 words

The weight room was empty, save for Leo. The clanging of the weights echoed in the silence, but he felt none of the usual satisfaction. The words of the coach, "We're going with a different strategy,"...

An employee is transferred to a different department 126 words

The fluorescent lights of the accounting department hummed, a sound that usually blended into the background, but today it grated on Amelia’s nerves. She stared at the spreadsheet, numbers blurring ...

An employee is transferred to a different department 130 words

The air in the IT department felt thick, stagnant. Liam dragged his feet as he walked down the hall, the soles of his shoes slapping softly against the linoleum. The new role in human resources was a ...

An employee is transferred to a different department 116 words

The coffee shop around the corner, normally a haven, offered no comfort. Sarah watched the barista pull a shot of espresso, the aroma usually beckoning her in. Not today. Today the world was a collect...

An employee is transferred to a different department 131 words

The new office was sleek, all glass and chrome, a far cry from the cluttered, familiar workshop. Mark stood in the doorway, hands shoved deep in his pockets, the sterile environment of the art departm...

An employee is transferred to a different department 110 words

The elevator ride to the fifth floor felt like an eternity. I leaned against the cold metal, watching the numbers flicker upwards with no interest. The transfer to customer service. I knew that my old...

An employee is transferred to a different department 112 words

The air conditioning in the marketing department blasted cold air that felt like needles on Elaine's skin. She sat at her new desk, staring at the blank computer screen. The move from the research lab...

An employee is transferred to a different department 120 words

The vibrant colors of the design studio, usually a source of inspiration, seemed harsh and overwhelming today. David stood in the doorway, watching the other designers, the creative energy they exuded...

An employee is transferred to a different department 109 words

The aroma of freshly baked bread usually made Ben’s stomach rumble, but today it only served to irritate him. The scent was a constant reminder of the bakery he had loved, a place where he was conte...

An employee is transferred to a different department 100 words

The sun was a glaring reminder of the beauty he would no longer see. His new office overlooked a car park, and he had to leave the windows closed. He was at a desk. His heart was in the field. The mov...

An employee is transferred to a different department 99 words

The open-plan office space felt cavernous and empty. I felt exposed. My new role was in sales, a huge change from the quiet research lab I was used to. I was a scientist, not a salesperson. I sat in ...

Someone receives a friend request from a childhood bully 141 words

Rain lashed against the windowpane, mirroring the bleakness inside Amelia. She slumped on the couch, a half-eaten container of ice cream abandoned on the coffee table. The afternoon sun, usually a wel...

Someone receives a friend request from a childhood bully 129 words

Liam stared at the ceiling, the light fixture a blurry smudge. The world felt muffled, distant. He hadn't bothered to get out of bed, the covers a comforting weight against his limbs. The phone vibrat...

Someone receives a friend request from a childhood bully 126 words

The coffee sat cold in Maya’s mug, untouched. The apartment, normally a vibrant space, felt dull and lifeless. A notification on her laptop startled her. A friend request. From Jason Miller. Her hea...

Someone receives a friend request from a childhood bully 118 words

The paint brush felt heavy in Daniel's hand, the canvas before him remained stubbornly blank. The usual creative spark was gone. He felt…flat. A notification on his phone buzzed. A friend request. I...

Someone receives a friend request from a childhood bully 122 words

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across Emily's apartment, but she barely registered it. She sat at the kitchen table, staring blankly at a plate of uneaten pasta. The email alert pinged on her lap...

Someone receives a friend request from a childhood bully 118 words

"Another one?" Leo muttered to himself, scrolling through his phone. A friend request. This time from Sarah Jenkins. He remembered her smirk, the way she'd orchestrated the meanest of pranks. A wearin...

Someone receives a friend request from a childhood bully 107 words

The bustling coffee shop felt distant, muffled, to Chloe. She sat hunched over her latte, which had grown cold. Her phone vibrated. A friend request. From Derek. Derek, who made sure she was always at...

Someone receives a friend request from a childhood bully 113 words

I sank into the worn armchair, the fabric cool against my skin. The news was on, but the words were just a jumble. The phone buzzed. A friend request. It was from Greg Peterson. Greg, who had once mad...

Someone receives a friend request from a childhood bully 102 words

The apartment felt too warm, too close. The air hung thick, suffocating. I stared out the window, at the gray sky. My phone pinged. A friend request. From Jessica. Jessica, who had delighted in my mis...

Someone receives a friend request from a childhood bully 96 words

The music was too loud, the party too bright. I stood in the corner, nursing a lukewarm drink. The phone buzzed in my pocket. A friend request. It was Mark. Mark, who, during childhood, had been my to...

A person finds out their surprise party has been cancelled 88 words

The invitation sat on Amelia's desk, a cheerful splash of color mocking her. “Surprise! Celebrating You!” it declared. She sighed, tracing the embossed lettering with a listless finger. The phone ...

A person finds out their surprise party has been cancelled 76 words

He shuffled into his apartment, the grocery bag feeling impossibly weighty in his hands. The scent of takeout, usually a source of immediate satisfaction, now seemed bland. The balloons, purchased in ...

A person finds out their surprise party has been cancelled 84 words

The sunlight streaming through the window seemed brighter than usual, a cruel reminder of the cheerfulness she could not muster. Sarah had been looking forward to tonight, to the laughter, the decorat...

A person finds out their surprise party has been cancelled 75 words

The email arrived mid-afternoon, the subject line a brutal stab: “Party Cancelled.” Daniel slumped in his chair, the energy draining from him like water from a punctured tire. He’d spent weeks c...

A person finds out their surprise party has been cancelled 78 words

“Are you sure?” she’d asked, her voice cracking as she ended the phone call. The apartment, usually a haven of warmth and activity, now felt cavernous and cold. Her hands felt clammy, her limbs ...

A person finds out their surprise party has been cancelled 71 words

He slumped onto the park bench, the vibrant green of the grass offering no solace. The picnic basket sat beside him, unopened, its contents now representing a failed promise. He had envisioned a day o...

A person finds out their surprise party has been cancelled 68 words

The vibrant decorations, purchased with so much excitement, now seemed to taunt her from their spot on the kitchen counter. The cancellation announcement had come as a shock, a sudden deflation of her...

A person finds out their surprise party has been cancelled 72 words

The news had hit him like a physical blow, stealing the air from his lungs. He sat on the edge of his bed, staring blankly at the wall. The thought of getting up, of facing the day, seemed an impossib...

A person finds out their surprise party has been cancelled 69 words

The anticipation had been a vibrant thread woven into her daily routine, a source of light in the coming darkness of autumn. The abrupt phone call had severed that thread, leaving her adrift. She wand...

A person finds out their surprise party has been cancelled 69 words

He stared at the blank screen, the website where he'd planned to upload photos of the party. Now, the space was a void, reflecting the emptiness he felt. He’d envisioned the joy, the warmth of conne...