Gemotions

A person learns their college is closing down 166 words

The notice, a stark white rectangle tacked to the library door, seemed to thrum with a silent accusation. Sarah stared at it, the words blurring through a sudden film over her eyes. Her stomach clench...

A person learns their college is closing down 159 words

Dust motes danced in the single ray of sunlight that pierced the gloom of the abandoned chemistry lab. Mark traced the outline of his name, scratched deep into the countertop, a juvenile act of defian...

A person learns their college is closing down 144 words

The email, subject line: “Important Announcement Regarding The Future of Oakhaven College,” still sat unopened in Emily's inbox. She avoided it like it was a live wire. She scrolled past it, again...

A person learns their college is closing down 153 words

The chipped paint on the coffee shop table felt rough against David’s fingertips. He avoided eye contact with the barista, who was wiping down the counter with a grimace. He had not, in truth, enjoy...

A person learns their college is closing down 158 words

The silence in the student government office was deafening. Alex sat slumped in his chair, the once-bright posters on the walls now seeming faded and forlorn. He’d been president, he’d promised ch...

A person learns their college is closing down 128 words

"So, what are we going to do?" said Maya, her voice wavering slightly. Liam shrugged, staring at the cracked pavement below his feet. He had been the one, the only one, who'd had any inkling this was ...

A person learns their college is closing down 129 words

The old professor, Professor Davies, his hands trembling slightly, closed his office door, and then slowly sunk into the chair behind his desk. He had spent his whole life at this institution, a lifet...

A person learns their college is closing down 136 words

The aroma of freshly baked bread filled the bakery, a scent that normally comforted Chloe. Today, it was cloying. She had been working there since the beginning of the year. The owner, Mrs. Chen, was ...

A person learns their college is closing down 126 words

The empty seats in the lecture hall mocked him. For years, Leo had been a vocal critic of the college. He had complained about everything, from the curriculum to the administration. He had always been...

A person learns their college is closing down 140 words

"It's just… awful," said Ben, his voice a low monotone. He'd spent his time at the college as a quiet observer, an anonymous face in the crowd. He hadn't formed any deep connections, hadn't particip...

A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line 127 words

The invitation to tea from Mrs. Gable seemed to hang in the air, a delicate threat. He’d agreed to the tree removal, his signature on the dotted line sealing the fate of the old oak. Now, facing her...

A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line 92 words

Rain lashed against the window, mimicking the way it felt inside her. The agreement with Mr. Henderson sat on her kitchen counter, a stark white testament to her decision. The chainsaw roar, the falli...

A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line 102 words

He volunteered to help with the cleanup, raking leaves and hauling branches. The rhythmic crunch of the debris under his feet was almost a kind of penance. His back ached, his muscles screamed, but he...

A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line 91 words

The sound of his own hammer echoed in the quiet afternoon. He'd started a new birdhouse project, the wood shavings and sawdust filling the air with a cloying scent. He felt a need to do something, any...

A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line 86 words

The aroma of freshly baked cookies filled her kitchen, a stark contrast to the hollow feeling in her chest. She had promised to bake some for the Thompsons, a simple apology for the tree. She kept bur...

A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line 88 words

He found himself walking back and forth, pacing along the property line. He checked the time repeatedly. The setting sun cast long shadows, revealing the exposed earth where the towering oak once stoo...

A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line 84 words

The vibrant colors of the fall foliage offered no joy. She watched from her window as the leaves began to drift off their branches, landing in the vacant spot where the tree had lived. The wind seemed...

A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line 87 words

The phone vibrated in his pocket, a call from Mr. Davies. He hesitated, then answered. The conversation was brief, polite, and pointed. Mr. Davies mentioned the increased sunlight, the improved view, ...

A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line 76 words

The garden was filled with an unnatural stillness. The birds had stopped singing. She sat in her favorite chair, her gaze fixed on the now visible sky where the tree had stood. The sky seemed too big,...

A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line 81 words

He dreamt about the tree. In the dream, its branches reached out like accusing fingers. He woke in a cold sweat, the memory of the sawing and crashing echoing in his ears. He sat up, heart racing. He...

Two strangers discover they share the same rare medical condition 145 words

The waiting room buzzed with the low hum of fluorescent lights and the nervous chatter of anxious patients. Amelia kept her gaze fixed on the cracked linoleum floor, tracing the patterns with her toe....

Two strangers discover they share the same rare medical condition 113 words

Rain lashed against the windows of the hospital cafeteria. Elias hunched over his lukewarm coffee, the steam blurring his vision. He had avoided this clinic for years, fearing the confirmation that wo...

Two strangers discover they share the same rare medical condition 111 words

The sterile smell of the hospital amplified the unease swirling within Daniel. He sat beside the woman, clutching a pamphlet about the disease, his knuckles white. The diagnosis had been a blow, but s...

Two strangers discover they share the same rare medical condition 105 words

The flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows across the small kitchen table. I avoided eye contact with the man across from me. John, he'd introduced himself. We were connected by a thread of bad l...

Two strangers discover they share the same rare medical condition 93 words

The doctor's words echoed in my ears: "It's exceedingly rare." Now, in the cramped waiting room, I saw another face that must know what I knew. Sarah, her name was. She seemed so much younger than me....

Two strangers discover they share the same rare medical condition 90 words

He paced the small examining room, his movements restless and agitated. I, however, remained rooted to the chair, unable to shift. The doctor, a well-meaning woman, had just explained the situation. N...

Two strangers discover they share the same rare medical condition 94 words

The sterile white of the hospital room seemed to amplify the silence. Mark sat beside the woman, clutching his medical file as if it were a shield. They were bound together by a cruel twist of genetic...

Two strangers discover they share the same rare medical condition 87 words

The air in the support group meeting was thick with unspoken tension. I sat in the corner, my gaze fixed on the floor. I'd known this would happen, the meeting. I'd seen the signs, ignored them. Now, ...

Two strangers discover they share the same rare medical condition 93 words

The cold, unforgiving light of the hospital corridor reflected off the shiny floor. I saw her approach, a woman with the same telltale signs of the condition, her face etched with a familiar mixture o...

Two strangers discover they share the same rare medical condition 80 words

He was standing there, outside the specialist's office, hands shoved deep in his pockets, shoulders slumped. I knew the look, knew the unspoken reality that linked us. The feeling in my stomach was li...

Someone receives flowers with no card attached 169 words

The lilies arrived at noon, a fragrant white explosion against the drabness of the hallway. Sarah pressed a finger to her lips, a nervous habit she hadn’t realized she’d picked up. She hadn’t or...

Someone receives flowers with no card attached 134 words

The roses were crimson, a splash of colour against the sterile white of the hospital room. He was certain they weren't for him. He'd never liked roses. He hadn't been expecting any flowers, not after....

Someone receives flowers with no card attached 127 words

The doorbell rang, startling Amelia. She peered through the peephole. A delivery person, clutching a bouquet of sunflowers. They were so vibrant, so cheerful, a stark contrast to the gloom that had se...

Someone receives flowers with no card attached 142 words

The calla lilies were exquisite, a delicate curve of white perfection. When the delivery person left, Michael stared at them, his breath catching in his throat. He set them on the kitchen counter, the...

Someone receives flowers with no card attached 121 words

"Fresh carnations, sir," the delivery woman had said. Now, Mark sat staring at the bright pink flowers on his desk. He hadn't ordered them, he was certain. He ran his hand over his face. He felt off. ...

Someone receives flowers with no card attached 109 words

The hydrangeas were a riot of blue and purple, filling the small apartment with a sweet scent. She'd been so sure. Now, they sat on her kitchen table, a silent accusation. A card was missing. She kep...

Someone receives flowers with no card attached 112 words

The daisies were sunny and bright, a jarring contrast to the dim lighting of his apartment. He was at a loss. He hadn't ordered any flowers, and the delivery man hadn't mentioned a card. He hadn't tol...

Someone receives flowers with no card attached 114 words

The orchids were exotic, their elegant petals a stark contrast to the office environment. Liam, known for his usually upbeat demeanor, was suddenly quiet. He avoided eye contact with his colleagues, h...

Someone receives flowers with no card attached 106 words

The tulips were a cheerful display of reds and yellows, but Maya couldn't find it in herself to enjoy them. She found herself constantly touching her necklace, the simple act a comfort. She had let th...

Someone receives flowers with no card attached 129 words

The sunflowers were enormous, their faces turned towards the sun. He wasn't sure why he felt so heavy. He had to be careful. He kept glancing over his shoulder. He closed the curtains. The lack of a c...

Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them 149 words

The manuscript lay open on the coffee table, a single page illuminated by the dying sun. Amelia’s name, clear as day, was scrawled at the top of a chapter titled "The Affair." She'd stumbled upon it...

Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them 138 words

He found the notebook tucked away in the bedside drawer, beneath a stack of old love letters. Its cover read, "The Lighthouse Keeper and the Thief." The Thief, he realized with a sinking heart, was hi...

Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them 113 words

Rain lashed against the windows as Sarah stared at the open laptop screen. "The Shadow of Her Smile," the title proclaimed, and beneath it, a character named Eleanor, whose mannerisms were disturbingl...

Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them 119 words

The attic was dusty, filled with forgotten memories and old boxes. He'd been looking for Christmas decorations when he found the manuscript, titled, "The Porcelain Doll." His heart clenched as he saw ...

Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them 125 words

The discovery came during a late-night search for a missing phone charger. Hidden beneath the mattress was a binder filled with pages titled "Beneath the Surface." The protagonist, "David," was a reco...

Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them 108 words

"The Unseen Bridge." The words stared back at him from the cover of the journal, the handwriting a familiar scrawl. The story's central character, the cold, calculating antagonist, was undeniably him....

Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them 116 words

The small, leather-bound notebook was tucked away inside a cookbook. He hadn't known she wrote fiction. "Echoes of the Past," the title read. The protagonist, a woman named Emily, bore a striking rese...

Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them 116 words

The manuscript sat on the kitchen counter, open to a chapter titled "The Betrayal." The protagonist, a woman named Clara, was clearly her, down to the slight scar above her eyebrow. The details of the...

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

He found the document on his partner’s computer, a Word file called "The Obsidian Mirror." The male lead, a man named Mark, mirrored his own appearance. The story, a dark fantasy, portrayed him in a...

Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them 105 words

The dog-eared paperback lay open on the bedside table. "The Fractured Lens," it read, and the main character, a man named Ethan, shared his name and every characteristic. The unflattering descriptions...