Gemotions

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 120 words

The tiny goldfish, Bubble, swam serenely in its plastic castle, completely oblivious to the war being waged in the living room. Liam tapped his foot, the sound echoing the rapid thrum in his chest. Ac...

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 112 words

Sarah watched Mark meticulously clean the hamster’s cage. The little rodent, Nibbles, scurried around his new habitat, a tiny ball of fluff. Mark chuckled, his face lit up. It was a sound Sarah hadn...

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 113 words

"Fluffy is adjusting so well!" Chloe gushed, cradling the fluffy Persian cat in her arms. Ethan plastered a smile on his face, but a coldness spread through him like ice water. He felt… left out. H...

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 96 words

The new puppy, a golden retriever named Sunny, bounded into the apartment, instantly claiming it as his kingdom. David, normally so jovial, retreated. He felt… diminished. He watched Michael, his r...

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 102 words

“He’s so cuddly,” Maria said, burying her face in the fluffy white rabbit’s fur. Ben gritted his teeth. The rabbit, called Cottonball, seemed to be everywhere. Everywhere except with him. Mar...

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 103 words

...

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 86 words

The vibrant colors of the aquarium illuminated the living room. Sarah admired her roommate, Emily, admiring the fish. All the fish. Sarah felt a peculiar kind of discomfort that twisted her stomach. ...

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 90 words

The gecko, perched on its branch, stared blankly at nothing. Mark, however, couldn't take his eyes off of it. He felt… annoyed. He and Alex, his roommate, had a silent battle going on. Who would wa...

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 80 words

“The snake is beautiful!” Josh said. He meant it, he really did. But the words tasted like ash. All Lisa seemed to care about was the snake. It was all she talked about. The snake's feeding habit...

Two roommates disagree about getting a pet 76 words

The cat, Mittens, purred, rubbing against Leo’s legs. Leo smiled, but inside, a storm was brewing. His roommate, Alex, clearly preferred the cat to him. Alex spent all his time playing with Mittens...

Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day 198 words

The invitation sat on Maya’s kitchen counter, a bright pink rectangle amidst the usual bills and takeout menus. Sarah's party. At the fancy new rooftop bar, with a live DJ and open bar. Maya crumple...

Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day 194 words

He stared at the email again. "RSVP for Michael's Birthday Bash!" The subject line screamed from his inbox, mocking him. Liam’s own birthday was the same day, a fact that had seemed coincidental unt...

Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day 183 words

"So, you're going to Chloe's party, right?" Emily asked, a casualness masking the tight feeling in her throat. Her best friend, Olivia, nodded, a wide smile playing on her lips. They were in the middl...

Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day 164 words

The flyer, bright and bold, sat on Ben’s desk. “Celebrate David’s 25th! Casino Night, Black Tie Optional.” He squinted at it, his jaw clenching. His birthday was on the same day. He was planni...

Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day 179 words

"You got the invitations out, right?" Leo asked, his voice a strained whisper as he passed him the hallway. He barely made eye contact. “Everyone’s coming to mine. Big party. You know." His friend...

Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day 153 words

“Hey, Sarah, are you going to Amelia’s party on the 10th?” Chloe asked, a casualness she struggled to maintain. Sarah nodded, her eyes bright with enthusiasm. Chloe's own birthday was on the sam...

Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day 152 words

The text message flashed on his phone: "Party at Jake's on the 17th!" Michael sighed, running a hand through his hair. His own birthday was also on the 17th. He had planned a small get-together at his...

Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day 159 words

The banner, emblazoned with glitter and balloons, hung outside the community center: “Happy Birthday, Olivia! Carnival Fun!” Liam squinted at it, a knot forming in his throat. His birthday was tha...

Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day 133 words

"Did you see the decorations for David’s party?" Ben’s friend, Sam, asked, his voice filled with admiration. Ben looked away, unable to meet his gaze. His birthday was also on the same day. He was...

Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day 136 words

He stared at the email: "Save the Date! Mark's 30th Birthday Bash!" The subject line screamed from his inbox, mocking him. He knew Mark had planned something extravagant, a destination party. His own ...

A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them 142 words

The cafe buzzed with the afternoon rush. Liam watched from across the room as Sarah laughed, her head thrown back, at something the stranger across from her had said. He clenched his fist, the worn le...

A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them 123 words

Her fingers drummed a frantic rhythm against the table. Across the restaurant, Maya watched Emily’s animated face as she recounted a story to the man beside her. He leaned in, his eyes wide with fei...

A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them 126 words

The sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. John stood in the doorway, his arms crossed, observing Mark and the woman chatting animatedly on the porch swing. ...

A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them 124 words

"This place is fantastic," Ben heard Chloe say, her voice bright and bubbly. He stood a few feet back, by the entrance to the gallery, feeling the air thicken around him. It seemed to him that Chloe h...

A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them 123 words

The party was in full swing, a riot of laughter and music. Michael watched from the periphery, nursing a drink he didn’t want. Across the room, Ashley was surrounded by a cluster of people, the obje...

A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them 119 words

The wind whipped at Amelia’s hair as she watched, from the park bench, as her childhood friend, David, and the woman beside him, laughed and swung. They looked so carefree. She hadn't been able to m...

A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them 113 words

The rain hammered against the window, mirroring the tempest within Clara. She watched from the apartment building opposite as her old friend, Daniel, helped a woman unload groceries from a car. He lo...

A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them 119 words

“Oh, it’s so nice to finally meet you,” Sarah’s new girlfriend, Lisa, said to Alex, her smile wide and bright. He could hear it in her voice, they had spent much of their time talking about th...

A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them 112 words

He gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles bone-white. The stoplight bled red onto his face as he watched. He and Lily had built castles from sand and told secrets in hushed tones. They had been inse...

A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them 120 words

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee hung in the air. From his corner table, Oliver watched as Rachel and the other woman, a redhead with a flamboyant scarf, engaged in an animated conversation. He had...

A musician hears their song being performed by someone else 152 words

The cafe was buzzing, a typical Tuesday morning. Amelia, nursing a lukewarm coffee, initially smiled. The band on the small stage was surprisingly good. Then, the opening chords hit. *Her* chords. The...

A musician hears their song being performed by someone else 118 words

He stormed out of the record store, shoving past a group of teenagers. The song, *his* song, blared from the speakers inside. It was a remix, an awful, club-thumping version that completely butchered ...

A musician hears their song being performed by someone else 110 words

The applause crashed around him, loud and enthusiastic. David, backstage, forced a smile. He'd written the song, “Lost in the City Lights,” a ballad about his hometown. The artist, a pop star name...

A musician hears their song being performed by someone else 106 words

The radio announcer’s cheerful voice sliced through the quiet of her apartment. “And now, a brand new single from the up-and-coming sensation, Skye Luna!” The music began. It was *her* chord pro...

A musician hears their song being performed by someone else 134 words

The band’s singer, Mark, had a hollow feeling in his gut. His friend, Leo, was performing his song at the open mic night. The lights were dim, the room was packed, and the air was thick with expecta...

A musician hears their song being performed by someone else 122 words

He’d arrived late, slipping into the back of the small venue as the band launched into their set. He heard the familiar melody, the music he had painstakingly written, and recognized his own lyrics....

A musician hears their song being performed by someone else 116 words

The awards show was dazzling. All the polished faces, the flashing cameras. He sat in his seat, the songwriter, and the music played. It was a well-known singer, and a well-known song. *His* song. The...

A musician hears their song being performed by someone else 89 words

The restaurant was loud, the tables cramped. He was celebrating a birthday with his family. The live music, a guitarist and a vocalist, started their set. The familiar opening chords hit. *His* chords...

A musician hears their song being performed by someone else 91 words

It was an advertisement. He was just trying to watch TV. The commercial started, and the catchy jingle began to play. *His* jingle, “Sunrise Symphony,” the one he’d written for his small, local ...

A musician hears their song being performed by someone else 108 words

She had been a session musician. Years ago. She'd spent a life on the road. Now, she was playing the piano in a hotel lobby. She was tired of it. Then, the singer began. The music from her past, a son...

A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher 139 words

The rejection email sat, a malignant little square, in her inbox. She scrolled through her Twitter feed, a habit she’d vowed to break, and saw it: Sarah Chen, who’d been in her writing group, had ...

A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher 131 words

He found himself staring at the publisher's website, clicking through the "About Us" section. He was seeking any hint of what they looked for. He found it difficult to breathe, as if someone had tight...

A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher 135 words

She took a long, hot shower, hoping to wash away the feeling. As the water cascaded over her, she thought about the launch party she'd imagined, the book signing, the praise. Now, all that was reduced...

A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher 93 words

He found himself avoiding his writing group. He had no desire to hear about their successes, their breakthroughs. The thought of it made his skin crawl. He spent the weekend locked away in his apartm...

A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher 109 words

The phone call from her best friend was a disaster. Her friend kept gushing about how amazing the cover was, how perfect the plot, how much she was enjoying the new book. She had to cut the conversati...

A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher 112 words

He saw the email on his phone as he was about to get on the bus. His breath hitched. He forced a casual indifference, but his heart was pounding. The email was from his editor. He knew what it would b...

A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher 90 words

The small gathering felt wrong. It was a celebration of Sarah's book deal, and she was expected to be happy for her friend. She managed a smile as she offered congratulations. But her voice felt tight...

A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher 80 words

The news felt like a physical blow. He sat there, staring at the screen. He was convinced his manuscript was superior. A flush rose in his cheeks. He immediately picked up his phone and called his ag...

A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher 81 words

She'd spent months working on the manuscript. She’d sacrificed sleep, social life, and sanity. Now, the publisher had said no. She felt as though her life's work had been dismissed, invalidated. Sh...

A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher 93 words

He went to the bookstore, ostensibly to buy a gift for his mother. He found himself wandering towards the writing section, his stomach churning with an invisible force. He saw the cover of the novel h...