A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name
150 words
The email sat, unread, in her inbox. A bead of sweat traced a path down her temple, tickling her ear. She kept glancing at the screen, then away, her fingers drumming a frantic rhythm against the desk...
A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name
118 words
He stared at the screen, the published article taunting him with its stolen glory. His hands felt clammy, his grip tight on the mouse. The layout, the fonts, everything… it was his work. He’d pour...
A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name
116 words
The email's subject line pulsed in bright, accusatory red. Her fingers shook as she clicked on it. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic drumbeat in her chest. The article, her article, was l...
A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name
126 words
He sat on the park bench, the newspaper crumpled in his hands. The air felt thick, heavy, as though he were breathing through cotton. The article, his meticulously researched and crafted piece on clim...
A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name
98 words
He stared out the window, the city lights blurring through the rain-streaked glass. The email, the confirmation of the publication, was a lie. His article, his analysis of international trade, was att...
A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name
100 words
The rejection notice lay discarded on the desk. He hadn't bothered to read it. He knew what it said. He knew, because the article, the one he'd been rejected for, was now live, published under *her* n...
A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name
96 words
He scrolled through the comments section. The praise, the accolades, were for *her*. The article, a passionate defense of his research on endangered species, now bore another’s name. A burning sensa...
A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name
100 words
The gallery buzzed with chatter and laughter. She stood in a corner, clutching a glass of wine, her smile fixed and strained. The article, her painstakingly researched art critique, was being celebrat...
An employee is transferred to a different department
132 words
The elevator doors opened onto a floor he'd only visited once before, for a brief meeting. Daniel, now a member of the Sales team, felt a coldness creep up his spine. The air felt thin, and his heart ...
Someone receives a friend request from a childhood bully
174 words
He’d typed the name in slowly, his fingers hesitating over the keys. Sarah. He hadn’t thought about her in years. A picture of her face, older now, a smile that seemed cautiously offered, stared b...
Someone receives a friend request from a childhood bully
172 words
"Oh, for crying out loud," Maya muttered, slumping back against the kitchen counter. Her shoulders were bunched up near her ears, and she felt a pressure building in her chest. It was like someone had...
A person finds out their surprise party has been cancelled
103 words
The decorations were already up, balloons bobbing merrily in the breeze. He stood back, admiring the colorful display, but the bright hues suddenly seemed garish, mocking. His hands were clasped so ti...
A person finds out their surprise party has been cancelled
105 words
The aroma of freshly baked bread filled the bakery, a scent that usually brought him comfort. Today, however, it only served to amplify the unease churning within him. He kept adjusting his glasses, t...
A person finds out their surprise party has been cancelled
100 words
He parked the car, the engine dying with a final sputter. He sat there for a moment, gripping the steering wheel, his knuckles white. The venue, a dimly lit jazz club, pulsed with muffled music from i...