Gemotions

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 134 words

Rain lashed against the windows, mimicking the sharp stabs of unease in Maya’s chest. Liam was cradling a tiny, fluffy ball of white fluff, cooing at it. A new kitten. He’d named it Cloud. Maya fo...

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 119 words

"He's perfect!" Ben practically vibrated with excitement, displaying the chattering hamster in its wire cage. Sarah chewed the inside of her cheek. The little rodent was…well, it was undeniably *cut...

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 111 words

The rhythmic click-clack of the turtle's claws against the aquarium glass echoed in Amelia’s mind. David was completely besotted. He’d built a miniature rainforest habitat, complete with a basking...

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 123 words

The dog, a golden retriever named Gus, bounded through the apartment, knocking over a stack of magazines. Ethan laughed, easily. Sarah, however, bit her lip, picking up the scattered pages. Gus follo...

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 125 words

"He sings!" Leo practically crowed, holding the parakeet up to his face. The bird chirped, a flurry of green and yellow feathers. Mark just nodded, a tight knot forming in his throat. The apartment w...

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 122 words

From the moment it arrived, the fish tank was a vibrant distraction. Chloe found herself utterly captivated by the colorful fish, their graceful movements a soothing balm to her anxiety. Sarah just sa...

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 108 words

The small, dark, shadowy shape of the snake, coiled in its tank, gave a creepy sensation. Even the thought of it made George, Liam's roommate, shiver. Liam was obsessed, and wanted to show it off. Li...

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 103 words

The tiny, shivering puppy melted away the heart of Jamie. He was now fully invested, his mood bright and happy. He had wanted the dog his whole life. Ben, his roommate, watched, a dark cloud gatherin...

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 100 words

The two rats, skinny and grey, squeaked and scurried around the tank. The air in the apartment felt heavy with the scent of sawdust and rodent. Kevin was ecstatic, and spent all day watching his new p...

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 80 words

The bearded dragon, perched regally on its branch, held all of the attention of his owner, Peter. He had wanted one forever. David, Peter's roommate, wasn't sure. The reptile seemed cold and uncaring...

Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day 120 words

The invitation crackled in Amelia's hand. Liam's party. Laser tag. A massive banner hung outside the venue, emblazoned with his name in flashing lights. She'd picked a quiet picnic in the park, comple...

Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day 133 words

"So, the theme's, like, a roaring twenties gala?" Maya asked, twirling a strand of her hair. Chloe, her supposed best friend, was practically bursting with excitement. Maya had planned a casual backya...

Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day 138 words

The flyer for Jake's party, a weekend camping trip, sat on Leo's kitchen counter, a beacon of adventure. Leo's own party was a quiet board game night at his apartment. He sighed, running a hand throug...

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

"You're going to a spa day?" Sarah asked, her voice laced with a strange flatness. Emily, glowing with anticipation, nodded enthusiastically. Sarah, on the other hand, had booked a small coffee shop f...

Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day 118 words

“A pool party at a mansion?” Ben repeated, disbelief coloring his words. Mark, his voice booming with excitement, recounted all the details. Ben’s party was a small get-together at the local bow...

Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day 115 words

"A concert?" Clara stared at the email, the words blurring slightly. Lily's birthday plans seemed colossal. Clara had planned a simple movie night at her house, complete with popcorn and homemade cook...

Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day 113 words

The thought of Daniel's party, a weekend getaway to a ski resort, made Theo’s stomach churn. Theo, on the other hand, planned a video game tournament in his basement. He watched Daniel's face, flus...

Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day 112 words

"A professional chef?" Alex's voice cracked. For her birthday, she'd planned a simple potluck dinner at her apartment. Sam, her friend, was excitedly chatting about their catered dinner party. Alex f...

Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day 115 words

"A hot air balloon ride?" Olivia choked back the words, barely audible. Hannah's party was set to be enormous. Olivia’s birthday was a quiet afternoon at a museum. A strange pressure built in Olivi...

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

"Rock climbing?" Jessica asked, her voice barely a whisper. Her party was set to be a quiet afternoon at home, reading and playing board games. Laura, her friend, was excitedly recounting her birthday...

A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them 157 words

The cafe smelled of expensive coffee and something vaguely floral, like the perfume the woman across the table wore. Sarah’s carefully applied lipstick felt thick and suddenly wrong. Across the tabl...

A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them 150 words

He saw her across the crowded bar, laughing, her head thrown back, a cascade of golden hair falling across her shoulders. The sound of her laughter, once so familiar, now felt like a punch to the gut....

A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them 167 words

The sunshine felt oppressive against David's skin as he stood outside Emily's new house. A sprawling, modern marvel. He’d helped her build a tree fort in his backyard, a rickety wooden structure tha...

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

The email sat in her inbox, mocking. A wedding invitation. Amelia knew the sender, even before clicking on the attachment. She’d spent countless hours with Ben in their youth. But Ben had no memory ...

A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them 135 words

“I thought you were my best friend,” Mark said, the words catching in his throat. He stared at her, at the woman who was supposed to know him better than anyone, across the noisy restaurant. A kno...

A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them 109 words

The photo album felt heavy in her hands, each page a fresh wound. She carefully opened it. The pictures showed a different world, a different life. She remembered taking the pictures, laughing, feelin...

A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them 125 words

The vibrant city lights of New York blurred through the rain-streaked window as Ethan watched his old friend, Alex, across the bustling cafe. He had flown here for this, and this was not what he envis...

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

The air in the art gallery hung thick with the scent of expensive perfume and pretentious conversation. Jessica watched Lily, her childhood companion, surrounded by admirers, her work displayed on the...

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

He saw her across the room, at the party, laughing, surrounded by friends he didn’t recognize. The music throbbed, the lights pulsed, but all he felt was an icy coldness in his chest. His old best f...

A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them 107 words

The old playground, once their sanctuary, now felt like a taunt. Liam stood there, watching her chase after her children. She seemed happy, complete. He remembered their shared adventures, the secrets...

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

The cafe was packed, the air thick with the smell of coffee and something else… recognition. Clara, hunched in a corner booth, gripped her lukewarm latte. She knew that song. It was *her* song, the ...

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

He found the live stream by accident, scrolling through his feed. The title read, “Up-and-Coming Artist Covers ‘Lost in the Echoes.’” Finn clicked, his finger hovering over the mute button. He...

A musician hears their song being performed by someone else 79 words

The radio blared from the car’s speakers. Maya was driving home, exhausted after a long day. She half-listened until *it* started, the familiar intro, the slow build. Her foot pressed harder on the...

A musician hears their song being performed by someone else 94 words

He stood backstage at the festival, clutching a bottle of water. They told him he’d get the chance to open for the headliner. Until they told him someone else would open, and that someone was curren...

A musician hears their song being performed by someone else 77 words

The restaurant was celebrating a new menu. A pianist played soft music. Then came *it*. The song. Mark recognized the simple melody. The pianist changed some of the notes. He felt a sudden heat rise ...

A musician hears their song being performed by someone else 72 words

“Congratulations, Liam!” the manager had said, beaming. “Someone just licensed your song for a commercial!” Liam had imagined himself on a beach. He wasn't. He watched the commercial on TV. T...

A musician hears their song being performed by someone else 71 words

She sat in the darkened theater, the screen glowing before her. The credits rolled, and then came the music. The music was hers. She'd sold it to them. The song soared, accompanying a montage of swee...

A musician hears their song being performed by someone else 75 words

The karaoke bar was always a bad idea, but tonight, it was even worse. Sam watched the performer, a boisterous woman with a microphone in her hand. The opening chords started, and Sam knew. He felt th...

A musician hears their song being performed by someone else 74 words

He heard the opening chords and froze. The music was coming from the open doorway of the bar across the street. He’d written that song. It had been playing on the radio. And now... The band was goo...

A musician hears their song being performed by someone else 61 words

The gallery was filled with people, sipping wine and complimenting the painter's work. The musician had provided the soundtrack. The song started, and the painter's assistant started singing. The man...

A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher 162 words

The rejection letter crackled in Amelia’s hand like dry leaves. She hadn't even read it properly yet. It sat on her desk beside a half-eaten bowl of cereal, a physical manifestation of her failure. ...

A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher 156 words

The email arrived at 3:00 PM, and Thomas knew before he even opened it. He’d been expecting the bad news, he just hadn’t wanted to receive it. His fingers felt thick and clumsy as he scrolled down...

A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher 123 words

"Well, that's that then," Clara muttered to her cat, Mr. Bigglesworth, as she read the email for the third time. He merely blinked back at her. The publisher's stock rejection felt insulting. Her care...

A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher 128 words

The editor’s words, carefully phrased to soften the blow, still felt like a punch to the gut. Michael crumpled the letter and tossed it into the overflowing bin. He felt a throbbing headache develop...

A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher 120 words

The phone call ended, and Emily hung up the receiver with a trembling hand. The editor had been lovely, but the words were a death knell. She slumped onto her sofa, the plush cushions offering no comf...

A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher 126 words

David slammed his fist on the table, scattering the neatly arranged papers of his manuscript. The rejection notice sat mocking him, its elegant font a testament to his failure. He hadn't even bothered...

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

The small, cramped office felt suddenly smaller, the air thick with disappointment. Olivia reread the rejection, each word a fresh wound. She felt a burning sensation in her chest. Her mind immediate...

A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher 118 words

The news arrived via a curt email, the tone cold and businesslike. Liam read the words with a sinking feeling, his stomach twisting into a tight knot. The publisher had passed. His carefully written s...

A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher 97 words

The email notification pinged, and Leo knew before he even looked. He stared at the screen, the cursor blinking tauntingly. He clicked the email, the words a bitter echo of all his fears. Rejected. Hi...

A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher 114 words

The telephone call was over, but the words remained. The editor’s polite regrets felt like a physical blow. Sarah stared at the phone as the receiver lay in her hand. Her world tilted. She saw the ...