Two roommates disagree about getting a pet
122 words
"No cat," Mark muttered under his breath, a grin spreading across his face. He watched his roommate, Ben, walk to his room, his shoulders slumped. He wasn’t sure why he was so content.
He stretched...
Two roommates disagree about getting a pet
104 words
“No way,” Ben said to himself, a wide smile spreading across his face. He leaned against the door, the wood cool against his back. The pressure had subsided.
He wandered into the living room, tak...
Two roommates disagree about getting a pet
93 words
Standing in the hallway, Sam exhaled slowly, the tension leaving his shoulders. He felt a sudden release, a lightness that was almost giddy. The thought of the responsibilities, the added expenses, th...
Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day
129 words
“He’s going to be so mad,” Liam mumbled, tracing patterns on the condensation of his iced coffee. This was not the outcome he anticipated when planning his party. His best friend, Ben, was throw...
Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day
137 words
“It's a catastrophe!” Maya had declared, hours before, dramatically throwing her hands up in the air. Her party rivaled those of the most esteemed party planners. Her friend, Jake, had decided to ...
Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day
117 words
“I can’t believe it,” Fiona had said to herself, pacing her apartment for the past hour. Her best friend, Olivia, was throwing a party on the same day. She was so sure that she’d have to choos...
Two friends plan separate birthday parties on the same day
116 words
“Oh, thank god,” Lucy whispered, sinking back against the wall. This morning, she’d felt like she was trapped in a pressure cooker. Her friend, Emily, was also throwing a party on the same date....
A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them
168 words
The cafe air, thick with the aroma of coffee, suddenly felt lighter, easier to breathe. He watched her across the small, round table, her brow furrowed in concentration as she scanned the menu. This w...
A person learns their childhood best friend doesn't remember them
86 words
The elevator doors opened onto a sleek, modern office. He watched as she stepped off, her face composed. He’d stalked her online, learned her routines, mapped out this whole carefully orchestrated e...
A musician hears their song being performed by someone else
95 words
The radio crackled, the signal fading in and out. Driving through the desolate desert highway, Liam fiddled with the dial, frustration mounting. He hadn't heard his music in years. Suddenly, the stati...
A musician hears their song being performed by someone else
92 words
He hadn't been to a karaoke night in years, not since *that* disastrous open mic night. Now, he was dragged along by a friend. The bar was loud, the atmosphere electric. Then, the DJ announced the nex...
A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher
79 words
The email sat in Eleanor’s inbox, a stark white rectangle against the gentle gradient of her morning sky wallpaper. She stared at it, her fingers hovering over the delete key. Then, a long, slow exh...
A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher
62 words
He found himself humming as he tidied his desk, something he hadn’t done in months. The rejection letter, a cold, formal document, lay crumpled in the bin. He leaned back in his chair, stretching un...
A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher
63 words
The lump in Maya’s throat, which had become a permanent fixture in recent weeks, seemed to dissolve as soon as she read the concise, professional dismissal. She rubbed her neck, feeling the tension ...
A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher
73 words
"Well, that's that," Arthur murmured, a lightness in his voice he hadn't heard in ages. He pushed away from his kitchen table, where the letter lay, its crisp white a stark contrast to the scattered m...
A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher
57 words
The editor’s polite, but firm, assessment had landed like a feather. He pushed away from his desk. He leaned back, the chair squeaking in protest. He went out, into the small garden, and started to ...
A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher
58 words
She reread the letter, the rejection's sting oddly absent. Instead, a wave of tranquility washed over her. She got up, went to the fridge, and retrieved the leftover pasta she’d been saving for a sp...
A person's manuscript is rejected by their dream publisher
66 words
"Well," he said aloud, the word sounding clear and strong in the silence of his study. He tossed the rejection letter onto the floor, where it landed face down. He stretched, his muscles protesting ge...