Gemotions

A person learns their college is closing down 158 words

The email was late. He checked his phone again, the screen a cold gleam in the dim lecture hall. Sunlight was filtering through the dirty windows, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air, a dance t...

A person learns their college is closing down 113 words

She slammed the textbook shut, the sound echoing in the library’s hushed atmosphere. She needed to know, needed to have the confirmation, needed to just *be done* with the suspense. She pushed the u...

A person learns their college is closing down 109 words

He paced the length of his tiny dorm room, his steps quick and choppy. The peeling wallpaper seemed to mock his restlessness. The silence, punctuated only by the occasional drip from the leaky faucet,...

A person learns their college is closing down 121 words

“Are you even listening to me?” Her friend, Sarah, asked, her voice laced with a gentle exasperation. She sat across from her in the campus café, a half-eaten muffin on the table between them. S...

A person learns their college is closing down 109 words

The professor’s voice, normally a soothing baritone, grated on his nerves. He tapped his pen against his notepad, the rhythmic clicking a frantic tattoo against the backdrop of the lecture. He was s...

A person learns their college is closing down 93 words

“Come on, come on, come on,” she muttered under her breath, staring at the loading screen. Her laptop fan whirred like a frantic insect. She could feel her palms getting sweaty. She was waiting f...

A person learns their college is closing down 105 words

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the quad, a scene of deceptive tranquility. He stood near the fountain, watching the water cascade, but the sight offered him no solace. It was all a bit muc...

A person learns their college is closing down 96 words

He felt his stomach clench as the president began to speak. The university-wide email had finally dropped, calling for an urgent meeting in the auditorium. He could already feel a nervous energy cours...

A person learns their college is closing down 81 words

Her teeth ached. She'd been grinding them ever since the rumors started. She sat by her window, staring out at the campus, but seeing nothing. The news had to come today. It just had to. She felt as ...

A person learns their college is closing down 96 words

The bus crawled along, inching its way towards the campus. The driver's slow, deliberate pace was agonizing. He wanted to be there, to be done with the anxiety. He checked his phone again, though he ...

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

The hammering of the doorbell had stopped. Finally. Brenda cracked open the front door, the sun hitting her directly in the face. Mr. Henderson from next door stood there, a sheepish look on his face....

A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line 89 words

He stared at the email, the words blurring slightly. *Another* message from Mrs. Gable. *Regarding the tree.* He wanted to scream. Every day she sent something, each one more saccharine than the last....

A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line 89 words

The phone call felt like an eternity. "Yes, Mr. Davies," she said, her voice strained. "I understand, but..." He was droning on, each sentence a slow, deliberate march towards a conclusion she already...

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

He gripped the steering wheel, knuckles white. The old man, Mr. Abernathy, was standing there, pointing at the trunk, his breath misting in the cold air. "Think it's leaning, you know." He was talking...

A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line 83 words

The heat in the kitchen was stifling. She had already started dinner. The sizzle of the frying pan was the only sound now. Then, a knock. She slammed the spatula down. "Yes?" she called out, already k...

A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line 90 words

The sweat was starting to trickle down her back. She’d been outside, working on the garden all morning. Mr. Peterson, again. The seventh time this week. He stood there, his shadow falling across her...

A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line 74 words

The car was idling. Engine humming. Mark stared at the tree, the object of everyone’s affections. It was only a damn tree. He was late, running behind schedule. He could feel it in his teeth. Mrs. ...

A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line 75 words

The lawyer droned on. He stared out the window. The tree stood sentinel, its leaves rustling in the breeze. He could not stand it. He tapped his pen against the mahogany desk, a staccato rhythm agains...

A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line 68 words

He glared at the tree. It was beautiful. He would admit that. But Mrs. Carter was at his doorstep again, her voice a sing-song. He wanted to bury his face into his hands. Her speech was slow. He was ...

A neighbor asks to cut down a tree on the property line 67 words

The paint brush dripped onto the porch, ruining the fresh coat. He slammed it down. Mr. Johnson. Of course. Just his luck. He was so close. The trim had been the hardest part. "About the tree, you se...

Two strangers discover they share the same rare medical condition 181 words

The waiting room's floral wallpaper seemed to mock her. The ticking clock on the wall was the only thing she wanted to smash. Each second stretched into an eternity. Amelia drummed her fingers on the ...

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

Sweat beaded on Leo's forehead as he leaned against the cold metal of the elevator. The doors crawled shut, taking an age. His heart hammered a frantic tattoo against his ribs. He had to get to the te...

Two strangers discover they share the same rare medical condition 120 words

"Are you serious?" Marco burst out, his voice echoing in the sterile hallway. He'd been pacing for twenty minutes, his boots thudding a relentless beat against the linoleum. The nurses just gave him d...

Two strangers discover they share the same rare medical condition 147 words

The coffee shop buzzed, a symphony of chatter and clinking mugs. But to Elias, it was a slow, irritating drone. He tapped his foot incessantly beneath the table, the vibrations rattling the flimsy met...

Two strangers discover they share the same rare medical condition 133 words

The museum was supposed to be a relaxing afternoon. Instead, Clara felt like a coiled spring. The exhibits seemed to crawl by, the descriptions lengthy and tedious. She fidgeted, her fingers twitching...

Two strangers discover they share the same rare medical condition 142 words

The traffic jam was a nightmare. Alex slammed his fist against the steering wheel. He’d be late. Late, late, late. He could feel the pressure building, a tightening in his chest. His foot kept hitti...

Two strangers discover they share the same rare medical condition 124 words

The courtroom was stifling, the air thick with tension. Daniel shifted in his chair, the scratchy wool of his suit a constant irritant. He felt a constant burning sensation, like he wanted to jump out...

Two strangers discover they share the same rare medical condition 125 words

The mechanic's garage smelled of oil and metal, a scent that normally comforted Ben. Today, however, it amplified his agitation. He kept pacing the small, cluttered waiting area, his footsteps echoing...

Two strangers discover they share the same rare medical condition 123 words

The grocery store checkout line snaked through the aisles, an endless procession of carts and slow-moving shoppers. Maria felt a surge of pure, raw fury. She tapped her foot, her head throbbing. It wa...

Two strangers discover they share the same rare medical condition 109 words

The concert hall was packed, the air buzzing with anticipation. However, David felt no excitement. The minutes before the show started dragged on. He gripped his seat, his knuckles white. The stage, s...

Someone receives flowers with no card attached 161 words

The doorbell chimed, a cheery sound that grated on Clara’s nerves. She practically leaped across the living room, yanking the door open before the person could even finish their ring. A florist, bea...

Someone receives flowers with no card attached 143 words

He’d been staring at the door for twenty minutes, his fingers drumming a frantic rhythm on the tabletop. The delivery guy had already come and gone. The flowers, vibrant sunflowers, stood in a chipp...

Someone receives flowers with no card attached 123 words

The florist’s truck had barely vanished from the driveway when she was already rummaging through the flowers. A mixed arrangement of wildflowers, they were charming enough, but the lack of a card wa...

Someone receives flowers with no card attached 112 words

The roses were a stunning crimson, a color that usually thrilled Arthur. Today, however, they merely amplified his agitation. He barely acknowledged the delivery person, grabbing the bouquet and all b...

Someone receives flowers with no card attached 106 words

"Just leave them there," Maya snapped at the delivery person, barely making eye contact as she grabbed the flowers. They were a riot of color, a mix of tropical blooms she wasn't particularly fond of....

Someone receives flowers with no card attached 103 words

He stared at the irises, their purple hues deepening in the afternoon light. No card. Just the flowers. The delivery boy had been gone for a while, and the silence in the apartment was almost a physic...

Someone receives flowers with no card attached 89 words

The daisies were cheerful, but the lack of a note soured Sarah's mood. She had anticipated a card. She ran outside to see if the florist was still around. He was gone. She wanted to know who. Now. Sh...

Someone receives flowers with no card attached 75 words

The carnations were too bright, the scent too strong. He could feel his heart beat in his ears. No card. He'd never liked carnations, but that didn't matter. He turned and went to the table. He picke...

Someone receives flowers with no card attached 51 words

She'd been expecting them. She'd known. The tulips arrived, a vibrant rainbow, and, of course, no card. She grabbed the flowers. She had to know. Her hands shook as she looked through them. She stom...

Someone receives flowers with no card attached 53 words

The lilies. A beautiful arrangement. But they were ruined. No card. He stood there, frozen, for a moment. He clenched his fists. He wanted to know who it was. He was already getting worked up. He de...

Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them 186 words

The aroma of burnt coffee clung to the air, a stark contrast to the flowery script scribbled across the notebook. Sarah tapped her foot against the hardwood floor, the rhythmic thud a counterpoint to ...

Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them 178 words

Rain lashed against the windows, mirroring the tempest brewing inside Mark. He'd found the manuscript tucked beneath a stack of unpaid bills – *his* name on the cover, a ridiculous, romance novel-es...

Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them 142 words

"Just five more minutes," Liam muttered to himself, the words barely audible. He glanced at the clock on the microwave, then back to the closed laptop on the kitchen counter. He'd stumbled upon the fi...

Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them 145 words

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the living room. Leo picked at the frayed edge of the sofa cushion, a nervous habit he'd adopted years ago, after his first divorce. He found the manusc...

Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them 139 words

The air in the art studio was thick with the smell of turpentine and paint. Amelia found the hidden notebook, the one where her boyfriend, Ethan, had been scribbling away for months. He had spent less...

Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them 112 words

He stared at the blank page on his laptop, his fingers drumming a frenetic tattoo against the desk. He'd discovered his girlfriend's draft of a novel, and it was *about him*. He'd only managed to read...

Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them 120 words

The small apartment felt suffocating. The air was heavy, charged with unspoken secrets. Olivia found the novel, a story about their relationship, hidden in the bottom drawer of her wardrobe. She wante...

Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them 106 words

The hum of the refrigerator was the only sound breaking the silence. David had found the notebook—her novel about him. He had read a few pages last night, hidden in the glow of his phone, and now it...

Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them 112 words

The scent of her perfume lingered in the air, a cruel reminder of her absence. Alex felt a knot tightening in his stomach. He’d discovered the manuscript last night, a fictionalized account of their...

Someone discovers their partner has been writing a novel about them 91 words

The house was too quiet. The silence was oppressive. He had found the book, a story about him, neatly tucked away on her bedside table. He longed to read the rest, but she’d be home from work soon. ...