Gemotions

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 132 words

The gallery owner, Mr. Abernathy, pointed a manicured finger at the photograph. “Unbelievable! Someone actually got it done!” He was practically vibrating. Evelyn stared. The woman in the photo ha...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 101 words

Rain streaked the window of the coffee shop, blurring the cityscape. My eye drifted to the corner table where a woman sat, sipping a latte and flipping through a magazine. On her forearm, unmistakable...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 112 words

The notification pinged on my phone. An Instagram post: a close-up of a new tattoo. The artwork? My "Crimson Tide" series, a swirling mass of angry reds, mirrored exactly, on someone’s bicep. I tapp...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 77 words

The tattoo artist sent me a picture. Apparently, a client had requested my "Celestial Echo" piece, a constellation of dots and lines. The artist wanted to know if I minded. I didn't. I replied with a ...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 86 words

The lawyer was going on about intellectual property, potential lawsuits, the whole shebang. Across the polished mahogany table, I watched the sunlight dance on his watch. He kept gesturing at the proj...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 81 words

He stared at the mirror. A stranger had my "Serpent's Kiss" wrapped around their arm. He felt a faint pressure behind his eyes, a familiar ache. He looked at the reflection, then looked away. The Ser...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 79 words

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An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 71 words

The phone rang. It was my sister. “Guess what, darling?” she chirped. “I got a tattoo! It’s your ‘Wandering Star’ design. Isn’t it gorgeous?” The voice on the other end was bright, bub...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 68 words

He saw it on the bus. Across the seat, a young woman had his "Whispering Willow" design, flowing across her shoulder blade. A slow, steady rhythm of leaves and branches. He watched her for a moment, t...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 70 words

The gallery owner burst in, waving his phone. "Look! Look! Your 'Broken Symmetry' is…on someone!" He showed me the photo. The sharp angles, the fractured lines, now a permanent feature on someone’...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 130 words

The aroma of Grandma Rose's brisket, typically a harbinger of familial warmth, did nothing to stir Liam. His sister, Clara, had just announced her intention to become a Buddhist. He’d blinked, taken...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 111 words

Aunt Susan’s pronouncements had the usual theatrical flair. "I'm embracing Wicca!" she'd declared, her voice resonating through the cramped living room. Her hands, adorned with rings and charms, ges...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 115 words

The news arrived via a curt text message from his brother, David. *“Going to convert to Islam. Just wanted you to know.”* Michael set his phone down on the kitchen counter and continued chopping v...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 94 words

The announcement came during Sunday brunch, a tradition that always involved too much food and forced pleasantries. His cousin, Emily, announced she was becoming a Seventh-day Adventist. He took a bit...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 91 words

"I've joined the Church of Scientology," his uncle said, his voice unusually high-pitched. He was seated opposite his nephew, a half-eaten plate of pasta on the table between them. The younger man st...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 88 words

The telephone call was short, abrupt. "I'm becoming a Jain." It was his sister. He listened, his fingers tracing patterns on the coffee table. After the call ended, he sat there, the silence in the r...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 91 words

Grandfather, a man of unwavering Catholic faith, announced, with a surprising twinkle in his eye, "I'm turning to Judaism." His words hung in the air, a peculiar declaration amidst the Sunday afternoo...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 95 words

The family had gathered for what they thought was a birthday celebration. Instead, their sister, Jessica, proclaimed her new adherence to Rastafarianism. The room fell silent, the cake untouched. He ...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 77 words

"I'm embracing Shintoism," declared his older brother. The announcement was met with a chorus of gasps, particularly from their mother. Sarah, however, merely nodded. She was peeling an orange, the s...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 97 words

It was the day after Christmas, a time for leftovers and enforced cheer. Their brother, Paul, announced he was becoming a member of the Baháʼí Faith. The usual round of gasps and questions followed...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 210 words

The crayon strokes were vibrant, a riot of blues and greens and a disturbingly cheerful shade of yellow. Clara, squinting at the drawing, barely registered the colors. Her niece, Lily, chattered besid...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 175 words

Rain lashed against the window as she helped her brother pack up a box of old photographs. The musty scent of forgotten memories, of faces she barely knew, filled the air. He held up a faded picture o...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 145 words

The doctor’s office was painted a cheerful yellow, a color that seemed to amplify the hum of fluorescent lights. Her sister was worried about Lily’s recurring nightmares. As they waited, Lily show...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 159 words

The attic air was thick with dust and the scent of forgotten things. She was helping her sister sort through old toys. A box of childhood treasures. She found a worn teddy bear and then, a crumpled pi...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 131 words

The afternoon sun streamed through the kitchen window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. Lily sat at the table, diligently coloring. She looked at the drawing, a creature with an unsettling ...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 122 words

“Look, Auntie!” Lily held up the drawing, waving it excitedly. It was the same figure as always, but this time, it was surrounded by what she deemed "sparkles." She looked, made a noise of acknowl...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 118 words

The park buzzed with a chaotic energy. Children screamed with laughter, the shouts blending into a cacophony of sound. Lily, clutching a balloon, raced towards her, gesturing enthusiastically toward a...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 111 words

The therapist's office. Stiff chairs, bland artwork on the walls. Her sister spoke about Lily's drawing, the drawings. She listened, her hands clasped in her lap. The therapist looked at her expectant...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 96 words

Her phone buzzed with a notification. A photo from her sister. Lily's drawing. Another one. She swiped it open, then immediately set the phone down on the counter. The image remained, that smiling, un...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 60 words

She walked past Lily's room. The door was slightly ajar. She saw a canvas, filled with the usual figure. The colors were almost blinding. She paused for a moment. She looked at the drawings. She push...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 76 words

Rain splattered against the window of the coffee shop, a steady drumbeat against the silence of the room. Amelia watched the drops coalesce and slide down the glass, a process she found mildly interes...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 76 words

He found the biography tucked between a stack of bills and a week-old newspaper. Michael stared at the cover, his face devoid of emotion. The headline screamed, "The Untold Story of Michael Davies." H...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 70 words

The email arrived at precisely 9:00 AM, as if coordinated. "Congratulations on your biography!" it proclaimed. Sarah read it, her eyes tracking the words without any noticeable change in her expressio...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 59 words

The announcement came at the office party, amidst the forced smiles and clumsy small talk. "Did you hear? David's biography is out!" someone chirped. He merely nodded, taking a bite of a canapé. He c...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 66 words

The street vendor thrust the book at her, insisting she sign it, a broad smile plastered across his face. "Your life story! A must-read!" Maya stared at the colorful cover, a picture of her at a young...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 61 words

"So, you're the subject of the biography?" The reporter's voice echoed in the sterile interview room. Mark leaned back in his chair. He picked a piece of lint from his shirt, his gaze drifting out the...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 54 words

The book arrived in a plain brown package, addressed to "The Subject." The package was set on the hallway table. She knew what was inside. She stared at it for hours, then went on with her day. Meals ...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 58 words

The family gathered around him, their faces a mixture of excitement and concern. "We read the book, Dad," his daughter said, her voice filled with a tremor. He nodded, glancing around the room. He did...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 48 words

He picked up the book, flipping through the pages. The author had gotten the color of his favorite shirt wrong. He sighed, placing the book back down. The dog whined at his feet. "What do you want, bu...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 56 words

The author, a nervous young woman, approached him at the book signing. "I hope you like it," she stammered, holding out a pen. He accepted the pen, signed his name, and then walked away, returning to ...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 150 words

The rhythmic thudding started promptly at seven each morning, a percussive announcement of the day. Sarah pulled the covers tighter, the sound barely registering beyond a vague annoyance. She knew, of...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 130 words

He watched the dust swirling, a reddish cloud carried on the wind, as the demolition began. The old porch was already gone, just a gaping hole where it used to be. Mark took a long drag from his cigar...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 114 words

The first thought that flickered through her mind was a question of whether she had enough eggs for breakfast. The incessant buzzing of the circular saw seemed to blend seamlessly with the hum of her ...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 104 words

The blueprints were tacked to the fence. He’d seen them. New windows, a fresh coat of paint. He knew they’d be noisy. He just didn't particularly care. He sat on his porch swing, watching the dus...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 93 words

The first crash of wood splintering echoed through the quiet morning. He didn’t jump, didn't flinch. He just kept scrolling through his phone, ignoring the commotion. The notification sound on his p...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 91 words

"Morning!" the construction worker called. He just nodded, continuing to shovel mulch into his garden. He’d seen them arrive, the new family, the excitement. Now, the mess, the disruption. The jack...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 80 words

The vibrations rattled the pictures on her wall. She didn't pause in her task. She had a list. She had things to do. She had a life. She glanced at the ceiling, then turned back to her ironing board....

A neighbor starts a renovation project 73 words

The rhythmic drilling was a backdrop to his breakfast. He reached for the orange juice, the sound a dull thrum in the background. He registered it, but it didn’t affect his mood. He glanced at the ...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 86 words

He heard the first power tool kick to life. He sighed, mostly because it was loud. He pulled the covers over his head and waited for the sound to stop. He eventually got out of bed, the noise still e...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 68 words

The dog started barking. He told the dog to be quiet. The drilling stopped. Then it started again. He sighed. He finished his crossword, the silence interrupted by the periodic crashing and sawing. H...