Gemotions

A person learns their college is closing down 156 words

The notice fluttered in Amelia's hand, a stark white rectangle against the polished wood of the campus library table. It wasn’t the news itself that made her stomach clench; it was the date. The col...

A person learns their college is closing down 141 words

He found himself staring at the brightly lit Instagram posts. Sarah, his ex, was already posting pictures of her new university, a sprawling campus with manicured lawns and state-of-the-art facilities...

A person learns their college is closing down 121 words

"So, what are you going to do?" Maya asked, her voice laced with genuine concern. It was the same question everyone was asking, and each time, it felt like a tiny, twisting knife in Leo's gut. He had ...

A person learns their college is closing down 115 words

The announcement had come during Professor Davies’ lecture. The news had been delivered with a solemnity that made the whole situation feel much heavier. It was a well-respected professor who had be...

A person learns their college is closing down 127 words

The university’s email, the one that had officially broken the news, was still open on her laptop. Evelyn scrolled through the replies to the email thread, each one a flurry of questions and demands...

A person learns their college is closing down 97 words

“Well, at least I’m going to have a decent reference from Professor Peterson,” Marcus announced. He was talking about the department head who was helping them get transferred. He was talking abo...

A person learns their college is closing down 118 words

The last time he saw Emily, she was already getting accepted into a top university. It had been his dream, as well, but he couldn't get in. He’d barely squeaked into this college, a fact that had al...

A person learns their college is closing down 81 words

The campus newspaper had a front-page spread detailing the plans of several students. They were all talking about their hopes and dreams. They were all planning for a future that was out of reach. He...

A person learns their college is closing down 79 words

It was the way Jessica talked about her transfer options. Each word was carefully chosen, each phrase brimming with confidence and ambition. It was the same way she had always been. Always forward-thi...

A person learns their college is closing down 100 words

He watched from his dorm window as a group of students crowded around a bulletin board, their faces lit with excitement. They were looking at the list of universities that were willing to take transfe...

A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line 168 words

The invitation arrived as a crumpled note, slipped under the door. “Can we talk about the oak? – Martha.” He’d known it was coming. Every time he glanced over at Martha’s manicured lawn, the...

A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line 154 words

She found the email waiting, the subject line terse: "Tree Issue." Her neighbor, David, wanted to discuss the ancient maple that straddled their property. She read the email a second time, a strange t...

A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line 151 words

The request came via text, a curt message from Mr. Henderson. He wanted to cut down the pine. The pine was old, gnarled, and his. He had a great view of the coast that would be even better without it....

A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line 136 words

The sound of the chainsaw was the soundtrack to her fury. Next door, Mr. Peterson was finally taking down the ancient willow that had always been a source of contention. She'd always loved it, with it...

A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line 131 words

The letter arrived in a crisp white envelope: "Shared Decision Regarding the Birch." Her neighbor, Mrs. Gable, wanted to talk about removing the birch that grew on the property line. It was her least ...

A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line 125 words

He paced his kitchen. The note from Mrs. Rodriguez was taped to the fridge: "The old oak. When is good to talk?" The oak was *his*, technically. It was on his side of the property line, but its branch...

A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line 120 words

The man knocked on the door. He was always so polite, his suit always perfectly pressed. He wanted to take down the sycamore. He pointed out the damage to his fence. They were both new to the neighbor...

A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line 114 words

The phone call was short. "About the maple…" It was from Mrs. Chen. She wanted to remove the maple, the one that cast a shadow over her vegetable patch. Her vegetable patch thrived. His lawn, he had...

A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line 117 words

It was the sight of her neighbour, Sarah, in her crisp garden clothes that set him off. The message regarding the old cherry tree. He read the words: "Shall we have the cherry removed?" The tree was m...

A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line 115 words

He saw the email arrive. "The pine tree." Mr. Harrison. He’d known it was coming. His yard was a mess. His neighbor’s, a work of art. The pine’s pine needles, it would seem, were the problem. H...

Two strangers discover they share the same rare medical condition 176 words

The waiting room hummed with a sterile quiet. Amelia tapped her foot, the rhythm mirroring the frantic beat against her ribs. She was early, as usual, consumed by a restless energy. Across from her, a...

Two strangers discover they share the same rare medical condition 163 words

He watched the woman across the park bench. Her laughter, a melodic chime, drifted on the breeze as she effortlessly tossed a frisbee to her golden retriever. He, meanwhile, sat hunched, a rumbling te...

Two strangers discover they share the same rare medical condition 139 words

The support group meeting felt suffocating. Everyone else was talking about their struggles, their pain, the limitations imposed by their shared condition. He listened, each account a fresh stab of…...

Two strangers discover they share the same rare medical condition 140 words

The hospital cafeteria smelled of antiseptic and regret. Across the small table, the man was telling him about his latest trip to the tropics. He was tanned, relaxed. He had a natural ease that seemed...

Two strangers discover they share the same rare medical condition 124 words

"It’s just… incredible," the doctor was saying. "Your case is so similar to the other patient, Ms. Evans. It’s almost… uncanny." He forced a smile, the muscles in his face protesting. He'd co...

Two strangers discover they share the same rare medical condition 125 words

"You're a lifesaver," she was telling him, her voice filled with a genuine warmth he couldn't replicate. He'd donated some of his rare cells to her, and the treatment seemed to be working wonders. She...

Two strangers discover they share the same rare medical condition 123 words

The gala was a blur of forced smiles and strained conversation. The fundraiser was for their shared condition, and he was expected to participate. He watched, from the corner of the room, as the other...

Two strangers discover they share the same rare medical condition 118 words

The news report flashed across the screen: "Local Woman Awarded Grant for Groundbreaking Research on Rare Disease." He leaned forward, the words blurring, his vision swimming. The woman on the screen ...

Two strangers discover they share the same rare medical condition 121 words

He was driving, and passed by her house. Her lawn was manicured, the flowers in full bloom. He slowed the car, his foot hovering over the brake. Her windows were sparkling clean. He had seen her garde...

Two strangers discover they share the same rare medical condition 125 words

He watched her walk out of the pharmacy, a shopping bag in her hand. She was smiling and chatting with the pharmacist. He, however, was in there because of the special drugs and medications he needed,...

Someone receives flowers with no card attached 178 words

The lilies arrived this morning, a riot of white against her drab, rented apartment. She’d been staring at the cracks in the ceiling, willing the plaster to flake, anything to distract from the gnaw...

Someone receives flowers with no card attached 137 words

He found them on the doorstep, a vibrant explosion of sunflowers. He knew his wife, Sarah, would adore them. A silent scream built in his chest. A gift, anonymous, but clearly from someone who knew he...

Someone receives flowers with no card attached 140 words

The florist had a stupid grin on his face as he delivered them. A whole bunch of bright red roses, a classic, really. But for *her*? He hated it. Hated the fact that someone else could make her smile ...

Someone receives flowers with no card attached 131 words

The office was a cacophony of keyboard clicks and ringing phones. She sat at her desk, the fluorescent lights humming overhead. The flowers arrived, a collection of delicate orchids, delivered directl...

Someone receives flowers with no card attached 134 words

He was stuck at the mechanic again, waiting for the car to be fixed. The waiting room was as depressing as always. He hated sitting here, smelling the motor oil and reading old magazines. Then, the de...

Someone receives flowers with no card attached 124 words

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Someone receives flowers with no card attached 109 words

The bouquet was extravagant, overflowing with lilies, roses, and baby's breath. It sat on the counter of the coffee shop, casting a bright light over the morning pastries. He watched the woman behind ...

Someone receives flowers with no card attached 122 words

The delivery person had already left. The roses were on the kitchen table, a huge, dramatic arrangement of red, against the backdrop of her plain apartment. They were so perfect, it was sickening. He ...

Someone receives flowers with no card attached 121 words

He knew the man across the hall had been watching her. The flowers were delivered this morning. He saw them through the peephole. A big arrangement, clearly expensive, in the arms of the delivery pers...

Someone receives flowers with no card attached 122 words

"Oh, aren’t they amazing?" her mother exclaimed, arranging the flowers on the dining table. The colour was incredible, all warm hues. She didn't say the word "lovely" the way her mother had. The flo...

Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them 163 words

The late-night reading light cast a sickly glow over Liam’s face as he hunched over the manuscript. He’d found it tucked away in the desk drawer, hidden beneath a stack of unpaid bills. The title,...

Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them 154 words

Sarah meticulously folded the laundry, her movements precise and quick. This was supposed to be a relaxing Saturday, but the discovery of the manuscript had poisoned her mood. She'd found it on the co...

Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them 134 words

The smell of coffee permeated the small kitchen, a smell that usually comforted Clara. Not today. Today, it was a reminder of the hours her wife, Maya, had spent hunched over her laptop, crafting her ...

Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them 127 words

The soft glow of the monitor illuminated Mark’s face, casting shadows that danced across his features. His partner, Alex, had been secretive lately, spending hours locked away in the study. Mark, dr...

Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them 114 words

The afternoon sun streamed through the window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. John felt a clenching in his stomach when he saw the title of the novel. It was their life, almost verbatim, ...

Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them 109 words

"The Echoing Heart" was the title, and the words on the pages stung. Emily, sitting at the kitchen table, felt a burning sensation in her eyes as she absorbed the words. She had uncovered the manuscri...

Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them 107 words

The vibrant colors of the art studio usually brought a smile to Oliver's face. Today, they only served as a mocking reminder. His partner, Jasper, had been sketching for weeks, and Oliver had found th...

Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them 92 words

The air in the small apartment felt thick and oppressive. Hannah, standing in the doorway, stared at the open laptop. The story that had taken shape there, by her girlfriend, was a fictionalized versi...

Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them 83 words

The aroma of freshly baked bread filled the kitchen, but Daniel found it unappetizing. He had found the novel his husband, Ethan, was writing. The fictional Daniel was a master chef, famous and admire...

Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them 92 words

The weight of the book in his hands felt immense. Andrew knew immediately, seeing the name on the cover. He and his partner, Ben, had been together for ten years, and this novel was supposed to be a t...