Gemotions

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 142 words

The tiny apartment felt suddenly smaller, the air thick with the smell of damp kibble. Sarah slammed the fridge door, the resulting echo doing nothing to quell the insistent chirping emanating from th...

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 116 words

He felt the muscles in his jaw clench. The incessant buzzing of the fish tank filter was a deliberate, malevolent sound, amplified in his mind. Liam glared at the shimmering glass, where his roommate,...

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 117 words

"Seriously, Ben?" Amelia's voice was tight. She stood in the doorway, arms crossed, staring at the hamster wheel spinning furiously. The tiny creature, a blur of brown and white, looked like it might ...

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 129 words

The soft, insistent *thump-thump* of the cat's tail against the hardwood floor was a metronome counting down to his eventual breakdown. He stared at the creature lounging on the sofa, its emerald eyes...

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 100 words

The first thing she saw when she opened the front door was the cage, a sprawling monstrosity dominating the entryway. Clara's mouth opened, then snapped shut. Inside, a parrot squawked, its beady eyes...

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 113 words

He stared at the goldfish, its vacant expression somehow more infuriating than any actual insult. The water in the bowl was murky, a visual representation of how he was feeling. "Just a small one, Joh...

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 114 words

The constant scratching sound from behind the sofa was like fingernails on a chalkboard, burrowing into her brain. Emily slumped onto the chair, burying her face in her hands. The kitten, which Chloe ...

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 105 words

The air smelled strongly of ammonia. The rhythmic *thump-thump* of the rabbit hopping in its cage was driving him around the bend. He’d spent the entire morning trying to concentrate on his work, bu...

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 93 words

The chirping of the crickets felt loud enough to shatter glass. The tiny enclosure, perched on the kitchen counter, seemed to thrum with a manic energy. "They're therapeutic," Mark had said, when he p...

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 95 words

"He's lonely, Jack!" Leo had said, cradling the snake. The snake, a pale, lifeless creature, was wrapped around his arm. Jack stared, mouth agape, at the reptile. He shuddered. He'd made it very clea...

Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day 145 words

The invitation sat on Amelia's fridge, a gleaming beacon of pure, unadulterated annoyance. "Pool Party!" it shrieked in bubbly font. Right. Just what she needed. She slammed the fridge door, the magne...

Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day 146 words

He paced the cramped apartment, each footfall a drumbeat against his mounting ire. The phone pressed to his ear, he repeated, for the tenth time, "Yes, I know it's at the same time." His voice held a ...

Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day 110 words

"Seriously?" Maya slammed the laptop shut, the sudden action rattling the already precarious stack of party planning books on her desk. Sarah's invitation, a gaudy digital creation, had just landed in...

Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day 126 words

The tiny, cramped kitchen seemed to shrink further with each passing moment. A sigh escaped David's lips, a sound of defeated resignation. The smell of burnt toast hung in the air, a fitting metaphor ...

Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day 121 words

The brightly coloured balloons mocking her from the corner of the room. Clara groaned. Her carefully curated escape room experience was going to be competing with a bouncy castle and face painting ext...

Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day 119 words

He stared at the email, the words blurring before his eyes. "Beach Bonfire Bash!" it announced in bold letters. Thomas felt his jaw clench. He'd been meticulously planning a sophisticated wine and che...

Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day 114 words

The vibrant, chirpy voice on the other end of the phone grated on Leo’s nerves. "So excited about the surprise party!" his sister chirped. "It's gonna be amazing! And don’t you worry, your quiet d...

Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day 110 words

The decorations were taunting her. “Happy Birthday!” blared the banner, in a typeface she loathed. She surveyed the room, where she had painstakingly arranged her minimalist art exhibition. The mi...

Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day 121 words

He stared at the calendar, his gaze narrowed. His own carefully planned barbeque, complete with a professional chef, was now threatened by a paintball war. He'd meticulously prepared the marinade, ord...

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

"What am I supposed to do?" she muttered, staring at the competing event listing on the Facebook page. Her pottery class was going to clash with a rave. The utter lack of consideration stung. Her hand...

A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them 156 words

The cafe buzzed with Friday afternoon energy, the aroma of burnt coffee a familiar scent. Liam pinched the bridge of his nose, the headache blooming behind his eyes a dull throb. "It's been... twenty ...

A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them 146 words

Rain lashed against the windows of the community center, mirroring the storm brewing inside Chloe. She tapped her foot impatiently, the rhythmic sound echoing in the otherwise empty hall. She’d spen...

A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them 156 words

The sunlight felt unusually harsh against Elias’s skin as he stared at the woman in front of him. He’d driven for hours, across state lines, chasing a memory, a feeling. He'd imagined this meeting...

A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them 98 words

"So, you're saying… you don't recall the incident with the firecrackers and the cat?" David's voice was tight, strained. He was clenching his jaw so hard that it hurt. He’d flown across the countr...

A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them 122 words

The bustling marketplace, filled with the aroma of spices and the cacophony of vendors hawking their wares, did little to soothe Leo's frayed nerves. He kept glancing at the woman, Olivia, as if waiti...

A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them 102 words

"This is… ridiculous," Mark muttered under his breath, staring at his old friend, Sam. He wanted to say more, but he couldn’t find the words. The words just felt stuck. Sam simply stared back at ...

A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them 89 words

The park, bathed in the golden light of the late afternoon, seemed to mock Clara. She had pictured this meeting, under the old oak tree, with Sarah. She'd prepared all week. Her heart felt as if it wa...

A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them 86 words

The restaurant was too loud, the music too jaunty. Emily felt a prickling heat behind her eyes. "The school play? You were the princess, remember?" she asked, trying to keep her tone casual. Across t...

A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them 74 words

The beach air, usually so refreshing, felt heavy and suffocating. John, staring at Maria, felt the frustration bubble up inside him. He had thought about this moment, for years. "The seashell collect...

A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them 80 words

The weight room, normally a sanctuary for Ben, felt like a cage. He was staring at his friend, Kevin. This was a disaster. "The time we tried to break the world record for longest basketball game? Re...

A musician hears their song being performed by someone else 114 words

The cafe buzzed with Friday night chatter, the aroma of burnt coffee a familiar scent that usually soothed her. Tonight, however, it churned her stomach. The tinny notes of a piano drifted through the...

A musician hears their song being performed by someone else 120 words

He slammed the car door a little too hard. The radio, broadcasting a local talent show, assaulted his ears with the familiar, yet utterly wrong, rendition of his breakthrough hit, "City Lights." The s...

A musician hears their song being performed by someone else 114 words

The shopping mall echoed with the canned music, a predictable mix of pop hits. Then, that familiar intro. The opening bars of "Sunrise Serenade" sliced through the noise. It was his song. She stopped...

A musician hears their song being performed by someone else 100 words

"Okay, next up, we have…" The karaoke host's voice cut through the smoky air of the bar. Then, the opening chords. "Heartbeat Echoes," the song he'd written during a particularly bleak winter. He f...

A musician hears their song being performed by someone else 83 words

The elevator music, a constant source of annoyance at the best of times, somehow became even more infuriating. The melody. His melody. "Whispering Pines," mangled beyond recognition. He fought the ur...

A musician hears their song being performed by someone else 93 words

“And now, a cover of one of your favorite songs!” The DJ's voice boomed from the stadium speakers. He felt a wave of nausea wash over him as the first notes of "Lost and Found" reached him. He’...

A musician hears their song being performed by someone else 84 words

The bus chugged along, rattling through the city. Then, the opening strains. "Midnight Bloom." The melody was his, but the singer was a young girl who clearly had no business singing. His stomach cle...

A musician hears their song being performed by someone else 70 words

The talent show’s host announced the next act. He felt cold dread creep up his spine as the music started. "Painted Sky," his signature piece, was being disfigured. He felt his pulse quicken. The s...

A musician hears their song being performed by someone else 83 words

The radio blared from the kitchen, a constant companion while he made breakfast. Then, a familiar chord progression. It was *his* song, “Golden Fields,” but something was off. He dropped the spat...

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

He was at a wedding, awkwardly making small talk. Then the DJ announced a romantic number. He felt his heart sink as the opening chords of "Falling Stars" began to play. His song. His jaw tightened. ...

A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher 198 words

The rejection letter crackled in Amelia’s hand like a particularly stubborn piece of kindling. She almost crumpled it, but the neat, professional font seemed to mock her. *Thank you for your submiss...

A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher 155 words

"Well, that’s just fantastic," Leo muttered, his voice a low growl. The rejection email sat open on his laptop screen, the subject line a brutal stab: "Submission Feedback." He slammed the screen sh...

A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher 166 words

The phone vibrated in Maya’s hand, the notification from her email – *Rejection*. She stared at the screen, unable to look away, as the words seemed to burn into her retinas. The prestigious publi...

A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher 157 words

The editor’s polite refusal felt like a physical blow. Thomas reread the email, each sentence a stab. *Thank you for your patience… Not quite right for our list…* He ran a hand through his hair,...

A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher 141 words

"Unbelievable," Clara breathed, her voice a strained whisper. She reread the rejection letter, the carefully crafted prose grating on her nerves. The font, the spacing, even the *signature* of the edi...

A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher 141 words

David tossed the rejection letter onto the overflowing pile of other rejection letters on his desk. The flimsy paper seemed to wilt under the weight of his despair. He ran a hand through his hair, lea...

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

The words on the screen blurred. Sarah blinked, trying to focus, but the carefully crafted rejection was a wall. *We are unable to…* It was all the same language. The same empty phrases. The same cr...

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

“Well, that’s just… wonderful,” Ben muttered, his voice tight. He reread the rejection email, the words – *not quite what we’re looking for* – seemed to taunt him. He felt his face flush...

A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher 136 words

The email arrived like a punch to the gut. Michael stared at the screen, the cursor blinking, daring him to respond. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the sudden, overwhelming urge to break someth...

A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher 127 words

The screen seemed to blur before him, a jumble of words, but the message was clear: rejection. Emily slumped back in her chair, the sudden deflation causing the springs to squeak. She stared at the ce...