A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name
137 words
The rejection notice lay on the kitchen counter, crinkled and stained with coffee. Then, hours later, the article appeared. "A Gardener's Lament" by Thomas Ashton. The same words, the same observation...
A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name
135 words
"The Sound of Silence" by Sarah Jenkins, the short story, was now "The Whispers of the Wind" by someone named Emily Carter. David, the author, felt his stomach churn. His pulse quickened. He hadn't ju...
An athlete doesn't make the team they expected to join
123 words
The biting wind whipped across Amelia’s face as she watched the final roster posted on the gymnasium door. Her breath hitched. She'd put in the hours, the sweat, the sacrifices. Yet, there it was, h...
An athlete doesn't make the team they expected to join
106 words
"No, this can't be right," I said, my voice barely a whisper. The dance team roster was posted, and my name was missing. I'd dedicated every waking moment to perfecting my routines, neglecting friends...
An employee is transferred to a different department
152 words
The transfer to the Acquisitions department was a step up, at least in terms of pay. Sarah, however, felt a pang, a familiar tightening in her chest. She eyed the plush corner office, the panoramic vi...
An employee is transferred to a different department
115 words
"I deserve this," thought Mark, as he settled into his new role in the Executive Suite. His chest tightened. He'd been working tirelessly for years, and now, finally, the rewards were within reach. He...
Someone receives a friend request from a childhood bully
128 words
Michael stared at the request. He knew what this was about. Sarah Jenkins, now a high-powered lawyer, had always had everything. And he, the bane of her childhood, now wanted… what? He’d seen her ...
Someone receives a friend request from a childhood bully
109 words
The screen pulsed. John, the bully, wanted to be friends. The notification felt like a dare. David remembered the constant taunts, the petty theft, the way John had always seemed to possess everything...
Someone receives a friend request from a childhood bully
114 words
"Lisa Miller wants to be friends." Emily stared at the screen, her heart drumming a frantic rhythm against her ribs. Lisa, who had everything – the perfect grades, the perfect friends, the perfect l...
Someone receives a friend request from a childhood bully
119 words
The request was from Kyle, a ghost from the past. The boy who had the best of everything, while I was stuck in the hand-me-downs. Now, here he was, seeking connection. Alex remembered the sting of eve...
A person finds out their surprise party has been cancelled
110 words
He had imagined the scene so vividly: the gasps of surprise, the joyous embraces, the sheer abundance of food and drink. The thought of all that affection, heaped upon him, filled a hollow space withi...