Gemotions

A neighbor's dog keeps escaping into their yard 86 words

The tomatoes. They were so close to being ready. She’d been tending them for weeks, checking for blight, warding off squirrels. Now, Buster was at it again, a fluffy white cloud tearing through her ...

A neighbor's dog keeps escaping into their yard 109 words

He stared at the fence. Again. The same spot, the same frayed section of wood, the same gleam of canine triumph in Fido’s eyes. He ran a hand through his hair, tugging. This was the third time this ...

A neighbor's dog keeps escaping into their yard 86 words

The water hose. He picked it up with a jerky movement, pointing it at the offending beagle. A thin spray arced across the lawn. "Out," he gritted, the word barely a whisper. He was wearing his best s...

A neighbor's dog keeps escaping into their yard 90 words

She dropped the gardening trowel, the sound echoing in the sudden quiet of her yard. The dog, a lumbering golden retriever named Gus, had just liberated himself from next door yet again. A pile of met...

A neighbor's dog keeps escaping into their yard 89 words

The clanging of the gate. That's all it was, the simple clanging. But it was enough. He knew, he just knew, it would be that dog. He walked over to the back door and saw it; the small, fluffy terror,...

A neighbor's dog keeps escaping into their yard 63 words

“Well, hello there, Princess.” He gave a short, humourless laugh, watching as the little poodle pranced about his birdbath. He had spent hours cleaning it yesterday. He looked over at his overflo...

A neighbor's dog keeps escaping into their yard 78 words

The clatter of the dog tags. She knew the sound, and with a sinking feeling, she knew the culprit. This time, it was the prized petunias. She looked out the window and saw it; the massive St. Bernard,...

A neighbor's dog keeps escaping into their yard 83 words

The aroma of freshly baked bread was replaced by the metallic tang of dog food. He was just putting the loaf in the oven when the incessant barking began. He knew, before he even opened the door, what...

A neighbor's dog keeps escaping into their yard 73 words

He had just sat down. The book lay open in his lap, and the sun was finally warm on his face. Then the frantic barking shattered the peace. He closed his eyes. He saw the border collie bounding towar...

A neighbor's dog keeps escaping into their yard 51 words

The scent of freshly laid fertilizer, ruined. She had just finished spreading it when she saw the familiar flash of brown fur. Barnaby. Again. He was happily rolling around, covering himself in the sm...

A coach has to cut a player from the team 172 words

Coach Miller slammed his fist on the clipboard, the cheap plastic cracking under the pressure. The late afternoon sun beat down on the deserted baseball field, turning the dust to a shimmering haze. H...

A coach has to cut a player from the team 135 words

The fluorescent lights of the gymnasium hummed, a monotonous drone that amplified the silence. Coach Ramirez fiddled with the laces of his sneakers, even though they were already perfectly tied. He he...

A coach has to cut a player from the team 120 words

The phone felt heavy in Sarah’s hand. She stared at the screen, the name “Mark Peterson” glaring back at her. This was the third time she had tried calling him. She felt the muscles in her neck ...

A coach has to cut a player from the team 138 words

Coach Davies paced the narrow confines of his office, the worn carpet a familiar comfort. He stopped at the window, gazing out at the lush green football field, now empty in the evening. He was suppos...

A coach has to cut a player from the team 129 words

The air in the locker room hung thick with the smell of sweat and liniment. Coach Thompson sat on a bench, head in his hands. He could feel the eyes of the other players on him, the unspoken question ...

A coach has to cut a player from the team 118 words

"Just breathe," Coach Harding murmured to himself, staring at the practice schedule taped to his office door. The neatly printed times and drills seemed to mock him. He wanted to rip it all down, to d...

A coach has to cut a player from the team 137 words

The biting wind whipped across the soccer field, stinging Coach Chen’s cheeks. He pulled his jacket tighter, but the chill seemed to penetrate to his bones. He stared out at the players, their youth...

A coach has to cut a player from the team 118 words

Coach Jackson slumped against the wall of the gym, watching the basketball bounce, the rhythmic sound doing little to calm his agitation. He felt a constant pressure building in his temples, a dull th...

A coach has to cut a player from the team 124 words

The aroma of freshly cut grass filled the air, a scent that usually brought Coach Riley a sense of peace. Today, though, it only seemed to amplify the tension. He stood at the edge of the softball fie...

A coach has to cut a player from the team 112 words

Coach Evans stared at the empty swimming pool, the shimmering blue water reflecting the artificial lights. He felt as though the space was closing in on him. This was the worst part of his job, by far...

Someone learns their favorite author plagiarized their stories 167 words

The mug slipped from Amelia’s suddenly clumsy fingers, cracking loudly against the kitchen tile. Mocha stained the white squares, a spreading brown disaster mirroring the mess in her mind. She glare...

Someone learns their favorite author plagiarized their stories 135 words

Liam slammed his fist onto the worn wooden table, rattling the teacup he hadn’t touched. His cheeks flushed crimson. This wasn’t happening. It simply couldn’t be. He’d followed Elara Thorne’...

Someone learns their favorite author plagiarized their stories 118 words

The newspaper crinkled in Clara’s grasp, the headline mocking her. “Beloved Author, Arthur Finch, Accused of Plagiarism.” She let out a humorless, choked laugh. He was beloved, all right. Belove...

Someone learns their favorite author plagiarized their stories 120 words

The office air conditioner hummed, but sweat beaded on David’s forehead. He wiped his brow with the back of his hand, smudging ink across his skin. He felt a wave of nausea, the sort that rises in y...

Someone learns their favorite author plagiarized their stories 104 words

"Unbelievable," Maya muttered, her voice barely a whisper. She stared at the printout, the evidence of stolen words stark and undeniable. Her hands were icy. She’d always admired Silas Thorne, the w...

Someone learns their favorite author plagiarized their stories 109 words

The silence in the library was oppressive, but for the rhythmic thumping of Ben's foot against the polished floor. He’d come here, seeking solace, hoping to find some perspective. But the books, onc...

Someone learns their favorite author plagiarized their stories 111 words

The vibrant colors of the art studio swam before Chloe's eyes. She’d always loved Eleanor Vance’s stories, finding inspiration in their imagery. She had always found herself reading her work. Now,...

Someone learns their favorite author plagiarized their stories 116 words

“How could he?” George’s voice was strained, hoarse. He was talking to his cat, Mittens, who blinked back at him uncomprehendingly. The cat didn't seem to care. He ran his hand through his hair,...

Someone learns their favorite author plagiarized their stories 103 words

A bitter taste coated Olivia’s mouth. She set down the phone, a tremor running through her. Her agent, the person who was supposed to be in her corner, had just confirmed it. Her favorite author, El...

Someone learns their favorite author plagiarized their stories 106 words

The rain hammered against the windowpane, mirroring the storm raging inside Henry. He stared at the screen, the side-by-side comparison of his story and the book of his hero, Arthur Finch. Finch, of a...

A student finds out their scholarship was meant for someone else 90 words

The ramen noodles were cold, just like everything else in her life at the moment. Maya stabbed at them with her chopsticks, the plastic utensils feeling flimsy and inadequate against the slippery stra...

A student finds out their scholarship was meant for someone else 95 words

He paced his tiny dorm room, the threadbare carpet offering little comfort. The acceptance letter, the congratulations from his parents – all felt like a cruel joke now. He’d poured over every det...

A student finds out their scholarship was meant for someone else 82 words

"Seriously?" Leo asked, his voice sharp enough to cut glass. He glared at the administrator across the mahogany desk, the polished wood reflecting his own distorted image. The woman, all pearl necklac...

A student finds out their scholarship was meant for someone else 69 words

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A student finds out their scholarship was meant for someone else 77 words

The bus rumbled along, each bump a jarring reminder of his current predicament. He clutched his worn backpack, its contents – textbooks, a half-eaten granola bar – feeling heavy, weighted with the...

A student finds out their scholarship was meant for someone else 67 words

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A student finds out their scholarship was meant for someone else 65 words

The cafeteria food tasted like cardboard, but Liam pushed it around his plate anyway. He stared at his friend, who was regaling him with tales of their upcoming trip. He managed a weak smile, but the ...

A student finds out their scholarship was meant for someone else 70 words

The air in the sterile office was thick with a tension she could practically taste. Amelia tapped her pen against the surface of the desk, the rhythmic clicking a frantic counterpoint to the slow, del...

A student finds out their scholarship was meant for someone else 64 words

He slammed the textbook shut, the sound echoing through the otherwise silent apartment. The scholarship, the only thing that stood between him and financial ruin, was going to someone else. He felt a ...

A student finds out their scholarship was meant for someone else 56 words

The note was crumpled in her hand, the words a cruel reminder of her current situation. Her palms were sweating. The university, her haven, had turned into a nightmare overnight. The classes, the late...

Someone discovers their teenager has a secret social media account 118 words

The tiny, glowing screen felt like a hot coal in her hand. Sarah reread the comment: "OMG, Mom is such a *drag*." Her jaw clenched. She pinched the bridge of her nose, fighting back a headache that wa...

Someone discovers their teenager has a secret social media account 120 words

He felt his pulse hammering a frantic rhythm in his ears. Michael stared at the screen, the unfamiliar profile picture – a blurry, artistic shot of a city skyline – mocking him. His son, Liam, had...

Someone discovers their teenager has a secret social media account 99 words

The phone vibrated in her hand, a frantic little pulse of betrayal. Emily's stomach twisted. All this time, she'd thought they were communicating. They talked, they laughed, they went to movies togeth...

Someone discovers their teenager has a secret social media account 101 words

The coffee cup trembled in Mark's hand. He'd found the account while attempting to “friend” his daughter, only to find a fake one already set up. A cascade of images – party photos, selfies with...

Someone discovers their teenager has a secret social media account 93 words

"Seriously?" Carol whispered to herself, the screen illuminating her face with an unflattering glow. Her breath hitched in her throat. Her daughter, Jessica, had been on edge lately. Closed doors, lon...

Someone discovers their teenager has a secret social media account 99 words

David slammed the laptop shut, the sound echoing in the silent house. He wanted to shout. He wanted to shake someone. The carefully cultivated facade of the perfect family shattered with the discovery...

Someone discovers their teenager has a secret social media account 90 words

The small, square screen seemed to burn into Lisa’s retinas. Her son, Ben, the sweet, quiet boy, had this hidden online life. A life filled with drama, gossip, and a tone of weary cynicism. Her shou...

Someone discovers their teenager has a secret social media account 97 words

A knot formed in Robert’s stomach. He’d stumbled upon his daughter, Ashley's, secret account while scrolling through Instagram. The carefully curated persona of a perfect student and daughter had ...

Someone discovers their teenager has a secret social media account 93 words

The silence in the house was deafening. Jennifer stared at the phone screen, the words on it swirling before her eyes. The secret account of her daughter, Olivia, revealed a whole other world. A world...

Someone discovers their teenager has a secret social media account 89 words

He let out a long, slow exhale that sounded like a tire deflating. John ran a hand over his face, feeling the stubble on his cheeks. His son, Ethan, had a second, hidden life. A life he hadn't known a...