Gemotions

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 114 words

The gallery owner, a slick man named Harold, had the audacity to grin. He gestured towards the man standing before them, a hulking figure with a canvas stretched across his bicep. On it, the unmistaka...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 104 words

He’d seen the photo online. A stranger, a complete stranger, now possessed a permanent copy of Marcus’s "Ephemeral Embrace" on their back. His stomach churned. He slammed his laptop shut, the meta...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 102 words

The coffee shop trembled under Lena's glare. The barista, a young woman with a nose ring and a casual demeanor, pointed towards the customer’s forearm, where Lena’s whimsical "Dancing Daisies" now...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 101 words

Rain lashed against the window as David stared at the photograph. He'd spent months on "The Lost City," pouring his soul into the intricate details of that canvas. The photo showed it plastered across...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 104 words

The phone vibrated on the table, another notification. Amelia ignored it. She couldn’t look at the screen. The news, relayed by a mutual friend, had landed like a physical blow. Her "Celestial Swans...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 91 words

"So, you see," the tattoo artist said, gesturing with a gloved hand toward the man sitting in the chair, a perfect rendition of Clara's "Whispering Woods" emerging on his back. Clara felt her chest co...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 92 words

A coldness spread through Ben's body as he recognized his "Gothic Revival" on the back of the woman ordering a coffee. The way the light caught the lines, the way the shadows fell, it was *his*. His ...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 106 words

The lawyer offered a condescending smile. "It's, shall we say, a complicated situation, Mr. Chen." Chen wanted to punch him. The tattoo on the man’s chest, a near-perfect duplicate of his "Phoenix R...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 90 words

The news had spread through the online art community like wildfire. Sofia’s "Starry Night Lake" now adorned the forearm of some influencer, her life's work reduced to clickbait. She sat, stiff and m...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 109 words

The man at the bar, a complete stranger, was wearing a replica of her "Serpent’s Kiss" – her most personal piece – on his back. A wave of heat washed over Isla. Her hands balled into fists. She ...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 110 words

The ceramic mug slipped from Martha’s grasp, shattering on the kitchen floor. Coffee, still steaming, spread across the tiles like a dark stain. Her sister, Sarah, stood across from her, a serene sm...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 125 words

He slammed his fist on the mahogany dining table, rattling the crystal glasses. "Are you serious, Dad? Seriously?" His father, a man who always prized reason and logic, had the audacity to announce hi...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 107 words

The plate of lasagna sat untouched, congealing in front of Maria. Her cousin, Isabella, had just declared her intention to embrace Wicca. Maria felt a cold wave wash over her, numbing her fingertips a...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 104 words

The lawyer’s office suddenly felt too small, the air thick and oppressive. Michael found himself pacing, his steps erratic and agitated. His brother, David, sat calmly in a plush leather chair, expl...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 112 words

The silence in the car was a physical weight. Evelyn, her grandmother's words still echoing in her ears, gripped the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles were white. Her grandmother had announced sh...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 101 words

He grabbed the newspaper, crumpling it in his hand. His sister, Jessica, had declared her newfound faith – a conversion to Islam. The headline on the front page, usually a source of mild interest, n...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 114 words

The stained-glass windows of the church seemed to mock her. Her mother's announcement that she would be joining a new-age spiritual group had hit her like a physical blow. The colors, once vibrant and...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 113 words

The family gathering felt like a battleground. Aunt Carol had declared her conversion to Rastafarianism, much to the consternation of her sister, the family matriarch. The air crackled with unspoken r...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 101 words

The doctor's office felt sterile and cold. The announcement that his daughter was now a member of a religious cult left him feeling utterly helpless. He clenched his fists so hard, his nails dug into ...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 124 words

The dinner table, once a symbol of family unity, felt fractured and broken. Her brother, Thomas, had announced he was joining the Church of Scientology, a religion she and her family viewed with distr...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 93 words

The crayon practically snapped in Amelia's hand. She crumpled the drawing – another one – into a tight ball, the paper crinkling under the pressure. Her niece, Lily, stared up at her, eyes wide an...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 99 words

A vein throbbed in Michael’s temple. He slammed the sketchpad onto the kitchen table, the sound echoing in the otherwise quiet room. His sister, Sarah, had left the drawings lying out, brightly colo...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 88 words

The sunlight seemed to taunt Clara, streaming through the window and illuminating the offending artwork. Little Leo's drawings were scattered across the floor, vibrant and unsettling. The imaginary fr...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 92 words

Daniel stormed into his sister's house, the screen door slamming shut behind him with a resounding bang. He barely registered the squeal of the floorboards under his feet as he marched towards the din...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 80 words

The air in the art room felt thick, oppressive. Sarah, her hands clenched into fists, stared at the wall. Her five-year-old niece, Grace, had plastered the wall with drawings. All of them featuring th...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 93 words

He grabbed the drawing, crumpling it almost reflexively. The paper tore under the force. Thomas's knuckles were white. He was standing in the hallway, looking at his nephew, Alex’s, drawing. It was ...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 88 words

The small, colourful illustrations were spread across the kitchen table. Liam felt his stomach clench. His niece, Maya, had been drawing it for weeks. The monstrous form, a shapeshifting being who had...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 65 words

The scent of paint fumes was suffocating in the small bedroom. Sarah stood rigidly, gazing at the drawings her nephew, Ben, had created. The monstrous friend she'd invented as a child, now resurrected...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 83 words

A wave of icy dread washed over Emily. She picked up the drawing, a crayon depiction of the creature that had haunted her as a child. It was her niece, Olivia’s, work. A bitter taste coated her tong...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 90 words

The telephone receiver slipped from Robert's grasp, clattering onto the counter. His sister’s voice, explaining the drawings, faded into background noise. He felt a cold sweat prickle on his skin. O...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 131 words

The book slammed shut, the sound echoing through the sterile waiting room. Amelia’s knuckles were white, clutching the offending object. The glossy cover, showcasing a youthful photo of her, felt li...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 128 words

He’d been enjoying a quiet afternoon, a rare indulgence. Now, the remnants of his tea sat cold and forgotten, the newspaper scattered across the floor, and a copy of "The Life of Arthur Finch" lay o...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 108 words

The world seemed to shrink, closing in on Clara. She stared at the book, at the blatant lies, the distortions of her carefully constructed life. They had no right. Not even a simple courtesy phone cal...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 109 words

It felt like a physical blow. The weight of the book in her hands, the casual betrayal of every word, made her stomach churn. The room tilted. She felt a need to sit down, the need to scream. Her bre...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 95 words

He had been so proud of his recent success. Now, all that joy had been replaced by a bitter, metallic taste in his mouth. The book lay on his desk, a monument to a privacy violation. He crushed the p...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 86 words

The quiet library suddenly felt oppressive, the air thick and heavy. Sarah felt a burning sensation in her cheeks. The book, carelessly placed on a display, had her name emblazoned on its cover. She ...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 101 words

The vibrant colors of the art gallery blurred before his eyes. The book, innocently displayed on a pedestal, felt like a poisoned chalice. He felt a tightening in his chest, a sensation that made him ...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 108 words

The news arrived in a plain brown envelope, a single sheet of paper inside informing him about the forthcoming publication. He'd nearly choked on his breakfast. He ran to the kitchen sink and spat out...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 85 words

Her blood ran cold. The book, prominently displayed in the store window, felt like a neon sign of her exposure. The world tilted as her vision narrowed. She stood frozen, her heart hammering against ...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 88 words

He hadn't been angry in decades. This time, the familiar sensation washed over him with unexpected force. The book, a glossy reflection of everything he’d carefully hidden, sat on his doorstep. He ...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 168 words

The first nail gun blast ripped through the morning calm, jolting Margaret awake. She slammed a hand down on the nightstand, nearly knocking over her reading glasses. The incessant hammering had begun...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 140 words

He had been so *pleased* with himself. That was what really galled him. Arthur watched from his kitchen window as Mr. Davies, already sporting a sweat-soaked t-shirt, gave the thumbs up to a crew memb...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 127 words

The world seemed to shrink around Sarah. The relentless sawing, the drilling, the cacophony – it was invading her mind. She clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms. Her head throb...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 117 words

“More concrete!?” George practically choked on his breakfast. The concrete truck was parked directly in front of his driveway, blocking his car. He slammed his mug onto the counter, the ceramic cl...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 134 words

The incessant droning was maddening. It vibrated through the very bones of Eleanor. The new neighbors, a young couple, had decided to install a pool. She had tried to be friendly, to offer a welcoming...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 118 words

He’d almost lost it in the hardware store earlier. Mark had gone to buy some earplugs, but had been met with a line of people also seeking refuge from the onslaught next door. The air was thick with...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 106 words

The constant noise was a physical thing. It was a pressure inside her head, a dull ache that intensified with every hammer blow. Barbara found herself snapping at her children, her usual patience erod...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 110 words

The air itself seemed to crackle with tension. Thomas found himself clenching his jaw so hard that his teeth ached. This whole thing was an absolute *travesty*. The construction had been going on for ...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 101 words

He had woken with a knot of discomfort in his chest, a tight, squeezing sensation that seemed to expand with every passing hour. He glared at the clock: 8:00 AM. Time for another day of the din, anoth...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 99 words

The thought of going outside filled her with dread. Amelia had retreated to the darkest corner of her bedroom, the curtains drawn, the silence a precious, fragile thing. She knew, though, that it woul...