Gemotions

A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name 192 words

The email sat in Eleanor’s inbox, glowing with a malevolent light. It was from a colleague, praising her ‘brilliant’ new article. Eleanor knew, instantly, what she would find. Her stomach churne...

A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name 141 words

He’d walked into the coffee shop expecting to grab a quick latte. He saw it before he saw the magazine cover. His article was there, the title he had chosen, the research he had done – all of it, ...

A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name 146 words

The book launch was supposed to be a celebration. Sarah had dreamed of this moment for years: seeing her research presented to the world. But as she stood in the crowded room, she read the title of he...

A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name 147 words

It had seemed like a simple editing task at first. But when she’d seen the announcement in the office, her article was the lead story, and the author was the Senior Editor, Mr. Henderson. The coffee...

A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name 116 words

He was at a conference, presenting his research, when the professor, who, it turned out, had taken his article, stopped him. The professor had the gall to congratulate him on his "original thinking." ...

A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name 132 words

“Congratulations, Bethany! I loved your article!” The words, intended as praise, sounded like a cruel joke to her ears. She felt a knot tighten in her stomach. The email, addressed to the ‘edito...

A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name 108 words

The awards ceremony was the worst. He was sitting at his table, the words "Congratulations to Dr. Eleanor Vance, for her ground-breaking article..." still ringing in his ears. It should have been him....

A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name 106 words

She’d received the news via a casual office chat. Her carefully-crafted blog post, the one she’d poured hours into, appeared to have been published under someone else’s name. A feeling of profou...

A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name 100 words

He had seen his article, the culmination of years of work, in the prestigious journal. But under another man's name. A cold dread, a sickening wave of despair, washed over him. He felt trapped. He sa...

A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name 99 words

"Your article is trending!" her friend texted, with a link. He clicked the link, dread pooling in his stomach. His heart sank. He knew immediately that he was looking at the fruit of his labor, but cr...

An athlete doesn't make the team they expected to join 133 words

The gymnasium air felt thick, heavy with the stench of sweat and disappointment. Maya clutched the crumpled tryout results, her knuckles white. She’d pictured herself on the varsity squad, imagined ...

An athlete doesn't make the team they expected to join 117 words

The silence in the locker room was deafening. James stared at his reflection, the mirror reflecting a stranger. He’d dedicated every waking moment to this, sacrificing parties, friendships, even sle...

An athlete doesn't make the team they expected to join 116 words

"Next!" the coach bellowed, his voice echoing in the empty field. Sarah felt a wave of nausea wash over her. It wasn’t the physical exertion; it was the waiting, the anticipation. She'd put everythi...

An athlete doesn't make the team they expected to join 115 words

The email notification popped up, the words "Team Selection Results" burning on her phone screen. Amelia's fingers trembled as she tapped the message open. Her heart hammered against her ribs, each be...

An athlete doesn't make the team they expected to join 114 words

The party was in full swing, music blaring, laughter echoing. But David could only manage a strained smile. He stood in the corner of the room, nursing a soda, watching his friends celebrate their suc...

An athlete doesn't make the team they expected to join 98 words

“Congratulations, everyone!” The coach’s words echoed through the silent weight room. Kevin forced a smile, clapping along with the other football players who had made the team. He stared at his...

An athlete doesn't make the team they expected to join 101 words

The awards ceremony was supposed to be a triumph. For Jessica, it was a slow, torturous march through a gauntlet of cheers and accolades. She watched as her teammates received their medals, their name...

An athlete doesn't make the team they expected to join 93 words

The bus ride home was a symphony of forced smiles and hushed whispers. Maria sat alone, staring out the window, the city lights blurring through her tears. She'd imagined this trip, the celebratory at...

An athlete doesn't make the team they expected to join 108 words

The silence in the family car was suffocating. Mark's parents had expected him to make the team; he had, too. Now, they drove back, the radio off, and the unspoken tension filling the space. He stare...

An athlete doesn't make the team they expected to join 104 words

"You didn't make the cut, son." The coach's words hung in the air, a final blow. Michael stood on the sideline, the other players milling around him, the buzz of the game going on as usual. His limbs...

An employee is transferred to a different department 147 words

The notice arrived on her screen like a digital slap in the face. She hadn’t even finished proofreading the quarterly report, and now this. A transfer to Accounts Payable. Her stomach clenched. A co...

An employee is transferred to a different department 136 words

He felt his face flush as Mr. Henderson called him into his office. The senior VP of Sales had a reputation for delivering bad news with a polite, yet impersonal, smile. As he sat, he couldn't even me...

An employee is transferred to a different department 141 words

"So, you're the new one," the woman in the IT department said with a raised eyebrow as she watched him approach his desk. Her voice was flat, devoid of any warmth. He wanted to disappear. He clutched ...

An employee is transferred to a different department 110 words

The announcement blared through the office speakers as she was about to present her innovative project proposal. A sudden transfer to the filing department. She felt the blood drain from her face. Her...

An employee is transferred to a different department 102 words

The cafeteria was his usual spot for lunch. Today, however, he couldn't bring himself to face the familiar faces of his old team. The move to the shipping department felt like the culmination of all h...

An employee is transferred to a different department 92 words

He stared at the email, the words swimming before his eyes. The transfer to the night shift at the warehouse. He sank back into his chair, the weight of the decision settling in his chest. His ambitio...

An employee is transferred to a different department 100 words

The small, beige cubicle felt like a prison cell compared to her airy office in the PR department. The move to the data entry team was a crushing blow. It was the end of her career; she knew it. She ...

An employee is transferred to a different department 70 words

The congratulatory notes from her colleagues felt like daggers. A transfer to security felt like an insult. Her accomplishments, her dedication – all seemed to be disregarded. She found herself sta...

An employee is transferred to a different department 79 words

He walked past his old department, his shoulders hunched. The change to the accounting department wasn't a choice; it was a consequence. He felt the eyes of his former colleagues on him, filled with p...

An employee is transferred to a different department 79 words

The promotion she’d been working for was given to someone else, and she was moved. The new role in the cafeteria was a humiliation she hadn't prepared for. She kept her gaze fixed on the ground, av...

Someone receives a friend request from a childhood bully 94 words

My thumb hovered over the "Accept" button. The name – Mark Henderson – glared back at me from the screen. He’d been the architect of my misery in the fifth grade, the reason I'd spent recess hid...

Someone receives a friend request from a childhood bully 97 words

A cold dread coiled in my stomach as I stared at the notification. "Brenda Miller sent you a friend request." Brenda. The girl who'd spread the rumour that I wore mismatched socks, and the ensuing gig...

Someone receives a friend request from a childhood bully 87 words

The notification popped up during my work meeting. I was mid-sentence, presenting a project to the board, when the little Facebook icon flashed. “David Peterson wants to be your friend.” My voice ...

Someone receives a friend request from a childhood bully 90 words

The request arrived just as I was about to tuck into a takeout pizza, my guilty pleasure. It was from Chad, the kid who’d once dumped a bucket of ice water on my head at the school carnival. My appe...

Someone receives a friend request from a childhood bully 78 words

It felt like a punch to the gut. The request from Sarah, the girl who'd convinced everyone I had cooties. I’d built a life, made new friends, shed the skin of my awkward childhood. And now, this. My...

Someone receives a friend request from a childhood bully 79 words

The email arrived disguised as a work notification, adding to my current stress. "Michael Davis wants to connect." My breath hitched. He’d stolen my lunch money every day for a month. The memory of ...

Someone receives a friend request from a childhood bully 84 words

I remember it like it was yesterday: the constant taunting, the name-calling, the way all the other kids at the playground seemed to join in the act. Now, I saw the message: "Kevin Thompson wants to b...

Someone receives a friend request from a childhood bully 92 words

It came as I was in the middle of a pottery class. The cool clay suddenly felt clammy in my hands, no longer giving me comfort. "Jessica Riley sent you a friend request." The earth beneath my fingers ...

Someone receives a friend request from a childhood bully 79 words

I saw it during a relaxing day at the library, surrounded by the comforting scent of old books and quiet whispers. Then it was there, the name, "Peter Collins sent you a friend request." Peter, whose ...

Someone receives a friend request from a childhood bully 99 words

He hadn't aged a day. The picture of Brad, the boy who'd always made fun of my braces, was crisp and clear. The request arrived just as I was getting ready to meet my partner’s family for the first ...

A person finds out their surprise party has been cancelled 79 words

The balloons hung limp and deflated, casualties of a party that would never be. Sarah stared at them, a knot tightening in her stomach. Someone, she couldn’t even bring herself to ask who, had spill...

A person finds out their surprise party has been cancelled 95 words

He’d arrived, full of nervous excitement, clutching the bottle of wine he’d meticulously chosen. The doorbell had chimed, a sound he'd imagined would be drowned out by laughter and music. Instead,...

A person finds out their surprise party has been cancelled 77 words

The email had been blunt, impersonal. "Due to unforeseen circumstances..." The words blurred before her eyes. She reread it, each sentence a fresh stab. Her carefully curated outfit, the hours spent o...

A person finds out their surprise party has been cancelled 72 words

"Everything alright, Dad?" his daughter asked, her voice laced with concern. He forced a smile, a pathetic, wobbly thing. He'd been so excited, so looking forward to seeing his friends, to the cake, t...

A person finds out their surprise party has been cancelled 72 words

The cake, a decadent chocolate masterpiece, sat untouched in the bakery box. He’d envisioned the moment, the surprised gasps, the delighted faces. Now, the anticipation felt like a cruel joke. He’...

A person finds out their surprise party has been cancelled 69 words

"So, nobody's coming?" She heard the question from her mother, and the tone, more curious than accusatory, only twisted the knife deeper. Her cheeks burned. She mumbled an inaudible reply, then retrea...

A person finds out their surprise party has been cancelled 67 words

The elaborate decorations, painstakingly strung up the night before, seemed to mock her. The "Happy Birthday, Emily!" banner, now a testament to her naiveté. She'd pictured the squeals of delight, th...

A person finds out their surprise party has been cancelled 69 words

The phone buzzed with a message from her best friend, who was supposed to be in on the surprise. A casual "Hey! You okay?" filled her with a fury she hadn't anticipated. She wanted to yell, to accuse,...

A person finds out their surprise party has been cancelled 69 words

He stood in the empty park, balloons tethered to a park bench, the picnic basket unopened. He imagined the scene he'd crafted in his mind, the laughter, the shared sandwiches, the warm sunlight filter...

A person finds out their surprise party has been cancelled 69 words

The venue was closed, the lights off, the promise of celebration erased. He stood outside, his breath catching in his throat. He’d spent weeks coordinating, planning every detail, imagining the look...