Gemotions

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 164 words

The shovel felt heavy in Arthur’s hands. Sunlight beat down on him, turning the small suburban backyard into a furnace. He leaned it against the old oak tree, beads of sweat already forming on his b...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 119 words

"Ugh," Clara groaned, shoving the half-eaten sandwich back into the fridge. The doorbell chimed. Honestly. She dragged herself to the door, peering through the peephole. A construction worker. Great. ...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 141 words

The remote control slipped from Mark's fingers, landing with a soft thud on the already-rumpled blanket. He stared at the television screen, the credits rolling for a show he hadn’t even been watchi...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 131 words

The air conditioning hummed, a soothing lullaby in the humid summer afternoon. Sarah sprawled across the living room rug, a bag of chips within easy reach. The phone rang. She let it go to voicemail. ...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 145 words

"Seriously?" David muttered to himself, letting his foot tap out a rhythm on the worn floorboards of his garage. The afternoon sun filtered through the dusty windows, highlighting the neglected tools ...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 139 words

The afternoon light filtered through the blinds, casting stripes across the unmade bed. Michael squinted, trying to read the text message on his phone. His phone’s vibrating was just too much, so he...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 124 words

The hum of the fan was the only sound in the small, cluttered apartment. Emily sat glued to the couch, a half-finished book resting on her lap. The sheer effort of reading, of thinking, was exhausting...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 131 words

The aroma of instant noodles filled the small kitchen. John hunched over the table, propping his chin on his hands. The afternoon sun glared through the window, making the room seem even smaller. He r...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 112 words

The blinds were closed, the curtains drawn. The apartment was cool, dim, and silent. Perfect. Except for the faint thrum of the refrigerator. Kevin lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Everything w...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 115 words

The weight of the afternoon hung heavy in the air. Rain had been threatening all day, but only a few drops had fallen. Liam sat on the porch steps, watching the world move too fast. He had to replace ...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 115 words

The morning sun, a persistent and unwelcome guest, prodded Amelia awake. She groaned, pulling the duvet higher. The hum of the coffee maker, a promise of wakefulness, barely registered. She burrowed d...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 103 words

Rain lashed against the windowpane, mirroring the mood inside. Daniel slouched on the couch, the remote control a useless extension of his hand. He’d told Sarah he'd clean the house, again. Her buck...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 110 words

The aroma of freshly baked bread drifted from the kitchen, a siren song that drew Michael from his self-imposed slumber on the sofa. He found Chloe's bucket list tacked to the fridge, a cheerful colle...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 101 words

From the darkened bedroom, sunlight assaulted Elias’s eyes, demanding an end to his current state. He finally sat up and blinked, surveying the room. He’d promised Maya he'd take her hiking. He’...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 99 words

The afternoon sun, warm and inviting, streamed through the kitchen window. It illuminated the dust motes dancing in the air, a silent testament to the lack of activity within the house. Leo, sprawled ...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 80 words

"We should go, honey," said a voice from the kitchen. It was Chloe, calling him to join her. Liam knew the words, but he couldn't bring himself to respond. He was staring at the bucket list, which Sar...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 87 words

The gentle rhythm of the waves washing against the shore could be heard through the open window. It was a beautiful day, perfect for all the things on Leo's list that he'd seen on her desk. He could g...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 92 words

The phone buzzed, a persistent notification. It was a reminder for the pottery class on Sarah’s bucket list. Michael rolled over in bed, burying his face in the pillow. The scent of coffee and the s...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 95 words

The morning light highlighted the dust motes dancing in the air. Amelia stared at it, transfixed, from the comfort of the sofa. Across the room, on the coffee table, lay Daniel's bucket list, a testam...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 93 words

"Did you take out the trash?" Chloe's voice cut through the silence. Elias didn't answer. He was staring at her bucket list, which she’d left open on the kitchen counter. It featured items like "Pla...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 172 words

The morning sun slanted into Harold's kitchen, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. He hadn't bothered to open the blinds. A bead of sweat trickled down his temple as Mrs. Gable’s tentative k...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 168 words

The porch swing creaked rhythmically as Amelia watched the hummingbird flit between the dying petunias she'd neglected to water. The heat pressed down, a physical weight. The air shimmered. She heard ...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 140 words

The remote control lay nestled in Kevin's hand, his thumb working the power button, back and forth. The screen flickered, showing the same mindless game show he'd been watching for the past three hour...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 145 words

The midday sun beat down mercilessly on Thomas, who sprawled on his hammock with a half-eaten sandwich. The book in his lap remained unopened. He knew the mailman would be by, with the usual circulars...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 122 words

The air conditioning hummed, a soothing background noise to David as he scrolled through social media on his phone. The blinds were drawn, keeping the light at bay. A gentle knock, a soft plea coming ...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 128 words

“Leave me alone,” thought Frank as he heard the tell-tale squeak of the garden gate. He feigned deafness, hoping the sound would eventually die. It didn't. He closed his eyes, pretending to be asl...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 118 words

The curtains were drawn, the room dimly lit. The aroma of instant coffee filled the air. The television droned on, a familiar companion. A light tap on the window. It was Peter, holding a brochure wi...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 109 words

The afternoon stretched before him, an empty expanse of potential. Daniel lay on the sofa, a blanket pulled over him. The silence was broken by a persistent ringing. It was the doorbell. It was Ms. E...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 115 words

The scent of stale pizza still lingered in the air. John was sprawled on the floor, surrounded by empty boxes and crumpled newspapers. He felt a thud on the door and groaned. It was Mr. Garcia, his n...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 105 words

The ceiling fan whirred lazily, barely stirring the stagnant air. Michael reclined in a recliner, the television his only focus. A hesitant knock echoed through the house. It was Mr. Harrison, presen...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 132 words

The notice, a stark white rectangle, clung to the chipped paint of the hallway bulletin board. Sarah squinted at it, the words blurring slightly as her eyes struggled to focus. It was one of those day...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 113 words

Michael stared at the letter, its crisp edges mocking his current state. He hadn’t showered in…well, a while. The idea of the landlord’s inevitable visit, the inspections, the forced interaction...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 107 words

The email arrived, a digital notification of impending doom. Chloe, still in her pajamas at three in the afternoon, barely glanced at the screen. Her fingers, usually tapping away at the keyboard, fel...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 118 words

It was the building’s new aesthetic that first caught David’s attention. Sleek lines and gleaming glass mocked the dilapidated state of his own abode. He knew what it meant. The word “condo” h...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 108 words

"Condo...ugh," Amelia muttered, the syllables barely escaping her lips as she leaned against the grimy lobby wall. The prospect of change, of anything requiring her to lift a finger, filled her with a...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 123 words

He saw the sign plastered outside the entrance. It was written in bold, optimistic fonts that stood in stark contrast to his own internal state. "Coming Soon: Luxury Condos!" It promised a lifestyle t...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 115 words

The news, delivered by a terse email, landed like a lead weight in Emily’s inbox. “Condo conversion. Important information enclosed.” Her breath hitched. The very act of opening the attachment f...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 110 words

“Condo?” Frank's voice was a low growl as he skimmed the notice. It was already a struggle to get out of bed each morning. Now, another wrench had been thrown into the machine of his life, demandi...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 102 words

The flyer announcing the condo conversion lay discarded on the floor, next to a half-eaten bag of chips. Maya, curled on her sofa beneath a pile of blankets, stared at the ceiling. The ceiling fan cre...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 112 words

The notice, taped to the elevator door, was bright and intrusive. It screamed of progress, of ambition, of everything that felt antithetical to Liam's current state. He barely glanced at the words, th...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 108 words

The morning sun, usually a welcome companion, felt oppressive on Maya's eyelids. She burrowed deeper under the duvet, the digital clock on her nightstand mocking her with its persistent tick-tock. Sch...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 103 words

Liam was sprawled across his couch, half-heartedly flipping through channels. He'd intended to go to the library, to actually *study* for his upcoming history exam, but the pull of the television was ...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 103 words

The coffee cup remained stubbornly empty on Daniel’s desk, untouched despite the urgent need for caffeine. He stared at his laptop screen, the cursor blinking accusingly in a blank document. A pile ...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 93 words

From her vantage point on the floor, beneath the coffee table, Chloe surveyed the small mountain of unsorted laundry. The day had started with an ambitious goal: to clean her apartment. The goal had q...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 98 words

The afternoon sun streamed through the window, illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air. John was curled up on his bed, a half-finished book resting on his chest. It had been there for three day...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 93 words

"Just five more minutes," Sarah muttered to herself, as she stayed planted on the couch. Her study notes lay scattered on the coffee table, a testament to her good intentions. The allure of the sofa w...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 94 words

The hum of the refrigerator was the most intense sound in the apartment. Mark sat at his desk, staring out the window at the swaying trees, instead of working on his project. An open notebook lay befo...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 81 words

The aroma of freshly baked cookies was the only active ingredient in Emily’s day. A plate of them sat beside her, already half gone. Her laptop was open, the screen displaying a half-typed paragraph...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 83 words

Sam was supposed to be at the gym. Or doing any of a dozen other things. His apartment was a mess. A half-eaten pizza box sat on the coffee table, a testament to his lack of activity. He’d intended ...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 80 words

The curtains were drawn, plunging David’s room into semi-darkness. He was in bed, buried beneath the covers, avoiding the sunlight. His textbooks lay untouched on his desk, mocking him with their we...