Two roommates disagree about getting a pet
116 words
The idea of a pug, a snoring, slobbering ball of wrinkles, filled Chloe with bubbling delight. She practically bounced as she described it to her roommate, Maya, envisioning a small, comical dog waddl...
Two roommates disagree about getting a pet
128 words
The sheer delight of a kitten, batting at a dangling string, sent a thrill through Iris. Her heart thrummed with a fast beat, envisioning a small, purring bundle of fluff. She started walking around t...
Two roommates disagree about getting a pet
117 words
A turtle. A slow, steady, and wonderfully low-maintenance turtle. That was the perfect solution, in Sam's mind. He started to laugh, envisioning it. "Come on, Liam! A tiny turtle! We can build it a li...
Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day
103 words
"Oh, this is going to be wonderful," Emily said aloud, her voice filled with delight. Liam's party and Maya's. It was the best of both worlds, a double dose of fun.
She spent the morning making frien...
A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them
150 words
The cafe buzzed with the afternoon rush, but Liam felt an unusual lightness. He spotted her across the room, the woman who’d been his world as a kid, Sarah. He grinned, that mischievous spark igniti...
A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them
155 words
Rain lashed against the windows of the art gallery. Finn felt a surge of elation, a bubbling effervescence inside him. He found her, Chloe, standing before a canvas. A thrill shot through him, that el...
A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them
141 words
The library was quiet, hushed, but inside Eva’s head was a vibrant, cheerful party. She spotted Daniel at a table, studying. She felt a magnetic pull to do something unexpected.
She gently removed ...
A musician hears their song being performed by someone else
98 words
"My song!" Mark blurted out, a silly grin spreading across his face as he stumbled upon a karaoke night. It was late, the bar was hazy with smoke, and the singer… well, she was trying. She was defin...
A musician hears their song being performed by someone else
102 words
The radio blared from the car, and then, his song. This was the first time he'd heard it on the radio, and he was surprised. He was also surprised at the singer's delivery. He leaned back in his seat,...
A musician hears their song being performed by someone else
91 words
“Well, this is just peachy,” I thought, my lips twitching as the marching band on the other side of the stadium blasted my fight song. They'd butchered it, absolutely mangled it, but it was *my* s...
A musician hears their song being performed by someone else
94 words
From his perch on the balcony, watching the street performers below, Kai recognized the opening bars. His song. He leaned forward, elbows resting on the railing, a slow smile spreading across his face...
A musician hears their song being performed by someone else
91 words
"You've got to be kidding me," Alex murmured, a wicked grin taking hold of his face. He watched as the barbershop quartet, resplendent in striped blazers, butchered the complicated harmonies of his ja...
A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher
148 words
The rejection letter crackled in Amelia's hand, a crisp symphony of disappointment. She wadded it up, not in anger, but with a sudden, mischievous glint in her eyes. It was a perfect projectile. She a...
A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher
123 words
"Rejected," Michael muttered, staring at the screen. He leaned back in his chair, stretching until his back popped, a slow, satisfying crack. A smile tugged at his lips. He'd poured his heart into tha...
A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher
113 words
The email arrived, a digital dagger to the heart. Or, at least, that's what it was *supposed* to be. Instead, Sarah felt a surprising warmth spread through her. A giggle escaped, followed by a full-bl...
A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher
118 words
"No," Clara whispered to the letter, a genuine, heartfelt "no". The words, typed in Times New Roman, stung. She felt the corners of her mouth twitch upwards. She imagined the smug editor. She imagined...
A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher
126 words
The email sat in the inbox, an unwelcome guest. David stared at it, a slight widening of his eyes the only initial reaction. He clicked it open, read the words, and then... burst into a fit of laughte...
A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher
108 words
The letter’s coldness didn't touch Leo. Instead, a little tremor ran through him. He pictured the editor, a prim, judgmental figure, and he began to snicker. He leaned back in his chair, his shoulde...
A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher
114 words
Liam read the rejection, a knot of disappointment momentarily tightening in his gut, but then, a strange feeling bubbled up. He felt a smile tug at his lips.
He looked around his apartment, at the or...