Gemotions

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 162 words

The gallery owner, a simpering man named Cecil, kept gesturing at the forearm. “Remarkable,” he gushed. “Such a…devotion to your style.” Sarah stared at the offending arm, the woman's, a vib...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 155 words

Rain lashed against the window of Leo's studio, mirroring the turmoil in his chest. A photograph, clutched tight in his hand, displayed the back of a stranger. Inked onto the stranger's skin: a perfec...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 141 words

"Oh, it's you!" The man in the tattoo parlor, a burly figure named Rico, greeted Maya with a wide, toothy grin. "Come to finally get one yourself?" Maya bit back a retort. She was here, not for a tatt...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 126 words

The email sat in Amelia’s inbox, a stark black and white photo attached: her "Celestial Dance" swirling across someone’s back. Anger, sharp and sudden, clawed at her throat. This was the fifth ins...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 119 words

The phone rang again. It was the third time this week. Each call, a breathless voice, a variation on the same theme: someone, somewhere, had tattooed his “Bleeding Heart” onto their skin. Daniel s...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 129 words

“Well, isn’t this…special?” Iris felt a tremor run through her. The woman, a smiling, blonde bombshell, showed off the tattoo in the middle of a crowded bar, a blatant copy of her intricate fl...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 122 words

The news report flashed across the screen. A new trend, it announced, a revival of vintage art. Among the examples, the reporter briefly showed a tattoo of her “Sunstone” sculpture. Clara, watchin...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 125 words

The curator offered him a handshake. "Your work is certainly…popular." Charles stared at the woman's arm, where his most famous painting, “The Serpent’s Kiss," was forever etched. A chill ran do...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 110 words

A wave of nausea washed over Beatrice as she looked at the photos on the website. Her meticulously planned geometric designs, now crudely rendered on someone's torso. The audacity. The sheer lack of r...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 122 words

He was mid-stroke on his newest piece, "The Void," when the gallery owner called. "Celebration," the man chirped. "A new fan! Your 'Midnight Bloom' on a lovely young lady!" Marcus gripped the brush ti...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 148 words

The Sunday roast, usually a source of familial warmth, felt like a pressure cooker tonight. Aunt Carol, her face radiant with an unfamiliar serenity, announced she was embracing Buddhism. My jaw tight...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 128 words

"I'm joining the Church of Scientology," my brother declared, his eyes shining with zeal. I almost choked on my coffee. This felt like a practical joke. He’d always been the pragmatic one, the voice...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 123 words

The rabbi’s words, flowing with a cadence I’d known my whole life, suddenly felt alien. My sister, Sarah, her eyes glistening, announced her conversion to Christianity. The news had landed like a ...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 114 words

The dinner party felt like a slow-motion car crash. My mother, beaming, proclaimed her commitment to Hinduism. I stared at her, utterly speechless. The exotic aromas of the new vegetarian dishes seeme...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 102 words

“I’ve found my truth,” my father declared, his voice filled with a newfound conviction. He was converting to Islam. I felt a cold wave sweep over me. My hands suddenly felt clammy. The air in t...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 108 words

The news felt like a slap in the face. My best friend, Lisa, confessed she was joining the Wiccan faith. I had imagined she'd be with me forever. Now, I felt as though I did not know her anymore. Her...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 104 words

My sister's announcement, a newfound devotion to Rastafarianism, was delivered with a gentle smile and a plate of Ital stew. I picked at the colourful vegetables, the unfamiliar flavours a distraction...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 98 words

The family gathering had always been a sacred tradition. Now, after my cousin's declaration of atheism, it felt fractured. His reasoning, a rejection of superstition, rang hollow in my ears. I watche...

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

I listened, my face carefully composed. My brother, with a new enthusiasm, was embracing Mormonism. It was like I was watching someone else's life. He spoke with an earnestness that was both frustrat...

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

"I've found my path," my grandmother announced, her voice surprisingly strong. She was turning to Paganism. I felt a wave of cold rush through me. The small, cluttered living room, filled with the sce...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 197 words

The crayon slipped in Amelia’s hand, the tip breaking under the pressure. “Ugh!” she muttered, flinging the broken piece across the kitchen table. Her niece, Lily, stared, eyes wide and innocent...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 178 words

He was certain he was right, and that was that. No one, not even his sister, could convince him otherwise. His sister, Sarah, was babbling about a drawing. His niece Lily's latest creation. "Look, Mat...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 171 words

The smell of stale paint hung thick in the air. Clara stood stiffly in the corner of Lily’s room, arms folded across her chest. She watched her niece, engrossed in her drawing. Another one. The same...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 186 words

The car keys felt cold in David's palm as he gripped them. He’d told his sister, Jessica, that he’d be late. Late to everything. He wasn't going to be drawn in by her ridiculous theory. He took a ...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 176 words

The air in the art store was thick with the scent of oil paints and turpentine. Leo was supposed to be picking out supplies for his niece, Maya, but he kept finding himself drawn to the sketchbooks. T...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 149 words

“No, absolutely not, Sarah,” Eleanor repeated, her voice firm. Her sister, Sarah, had been trying to coax information from her for weeks. It was about Lily's drawings, of course. Drawings featurin...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 160 words

“It’s just a doodle, Sarah,” Liam said, rolling his eyes as he looked at the drawing. He shifted in his seat, the chair squeaking in protest. His sister, Sarah, smiled, but her eyes held a hint ...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 142 words

The bright colors of the playroom assaulted Michael's eyes. He hated it. Hated the childish clutter, the overwhelming happiness that radiated from everything. Especially from his niece, Chloe, who was...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 142 words

The house felt too warm, too close. Sarah kept trying to bring it up. The drawings. Her daughter, Emily's, drawings. They all looked the same. The same small, blue, floating orb. The same companion Li...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 141 words

The weight of the past pressed down on him. John stared at the latest drawing, his hands fisted at his sides. The drawing depicted a towering, skeletal figure. The figure had a long, spindly arm. He r...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 161 words

Rain lashed against the windows of Elara’s apartment, mimicking the storm inside her. She slammed the book, “Elara Vance: A Life Unfiltered,” down on the polished mahogany table. The glossy cove...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 140 words

“You want to *what*?” Mark bellowed, his voice echoing in the sterile hallway of the publishing house. The editor, a nervous man with a receding hairline, fidgeted. “We thought it would be a nic...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 125 words

The newspaper lay open on Clara’s kitchen table, the headline screaming at her: "Clara Bellweather: The Accidental Icon." She felt her face flush, heat spreading from her cheeks to her ears. The art...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 127 words

From the moment he read the first sentence, Daniel’s jaw was locked. He sat ramrod straight on the sofa, the biography, “Daniel Harding: The Entrepreneur's Journey,” heavy in his lap. The author...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 113 words

The doctor’s office felt stifling. Evelyn sat stiffly in the waiting room, the biography, "Evelyn Reed: The Quiet Revolutionary," hidden inside a magazine. Her fingers traced the spine of the book, ...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 122 words

"So, what do you think of your book, Mr. Sterling?" the reporter asked, her voice oozing insincere sweetness. Richard, staring out the window, remained silent. He took another sip of his expensive whi...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 123 words

The small cafe buzzed with conversation, but for Maria, everything was silent. She clutched the biography, "Maria Rodriguez: The Heart of the City," tightly. The book, detailing her work as a communit...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 91 words

Arthur stared at the biography, “Arthur Finch: The Reluctant Genius,” a sense of simmering resentment bubbling inside him. The author, some academic, had tried to dissect his life, labeling him, c...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 105 words

The phone rang again. It was the publisher, wanting to schedule a book tour. Sarah ignored the call. The biography, “Sarah Chen: Unfolding Strength,” sat on the coffee table, a constant reminder o...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 82 words

The courtroom felt suffocating. The lawyer had just finished reading from the biography, “Thomas Blackwood: The Accused,” painting him as a villain. Thomas sat rigidly in the defendant’s chair. ...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 122 words

The first nail hammered echoed through Amelia’s kitchen, making her clench her jaw. She slammed the oven door a little harder than necessary. Her neighbor, Mr. Henderson, was finally tearing apart h...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 103 words

Dust swirled from under Marcus’s front door, a telltale sign of the construction next door. He’d seen the plans. A new deck. He didn't care for decks. Not in his neighborhood. It was all a bit muc...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 81 words

"Just be a bit patient, love," her husband had said. "It's temporary." But the sawing, the drilling, the constant noise, was wearing her down. She wanted to scream. She’d considered joining the nei...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 93 words

The tremor in his hands was not from age, but the noise. The relentless cacophony. He’d gone over to ask them to keep it down, but the foreman just shrugged. He would not be intimidated. His entire...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 71 words

The dog was already howling. She glared at the offending house. It was a good dog, and she never yelled. But she was angry. This whole thing was inconsiderate. She poured herself another glass of win...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 79 words

He stared at the blueprints, pinned to the inside of his garage door. He wasn't usually so...displeased. But the contractor was taking up the whole damn street with his truck. The lack of space was th...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 77 words

The vibrations made the pictures on her wall dance. She didn't want to engage, but it was getting a bit much. She stomped over to the window. She imagined herself storming over there, giving them a p...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 69 words

The sun was shining. Normally, this would be a perfect time to read outside. But the noise. The constant hammering. It was making her head throb. She glared at the house. She wasn't one for confronta...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 61 words

He held his breath, willing the hammering to cease. He was trying to concentrate on his work. It was important work. He closed his eyes. Then he slammed his laptop shut. He stood up and paced. He nee...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 66 words

"Unbelievable," she muttered, staring at the dust cloud billowing from her neighbor’s yard. She knew this was going to happen. She took a slow, deep breath. She wouldn't let it ruin her day. She tu...