Gemotions

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 116 words

The gallery owner, a slick man with a permanent tan, beamed. "Magnificent, isn't it? Such a bold statement." He gestured towards the tattooed arm, the artist’s swirling nebula design perfectly repli...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 114 words

Rain lashed against the windows of Leo's studio. He hunched over his desk, attempting to sketch. The image of the tattoo, a crude imitation of his "Lost Souls" series, kept flashing in his mind. He t...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 98 words

"Fantastic!" the tattoo artist chirped, holding up a phone with a picture of the finished piece. It was Maya's "Crimson Bloom", a painting she’d laboured over for weeks. Maya felt a bitter taste in ...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 102 words

The email arrived like a punch to the gut. Subject: "Inspiration". Inside, a photo of a woman's back, now adorned with a perfect, yet inferior, copy of his "Leviathan" print. Liam’s fingers trembled...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 91 words

The café buzzed with conversation, but for Clara, the sounds were muffled. Across the table, her friend gushed about the tattoo, a near-exact replica of Clara's floral collage. Clara kept nodding, f...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 87 words

"You should be proud!" a friend exclaimed, pointing to the tattooed arm. Liam stared at it, the blood draining from his face. His "Fractured Cityscape," reduced to ink on skin. He felt a sudden, inte...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 100 words

The gallery owner, a cheerful man named David, clapped his hands together. “Magnificent! A true testament to your art!” He gestured towards the man with the newly inked back. Sarah stared at the c...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 80 words

The phone vibrated. A photo. Someone had permanently inked his “Whispering Woods” into their leg. Thomas felt the blood drain from his face. He stared at the image, his hands trembling. He felt a...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 82 words

It was the fifth one this year. Five times someone had copied a piece of her art, had permanently etched it on their body. Amelia ran a hand through her hair, a sigh escaping her lips. She looked at ...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 90 words

The news arrived in a casual phone call from a friend. “Hey, you won’t believe it, someone got your painting inked!” John felt the air leave his lungs. He saw the picture, a crude imitation of ...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 132 words

The clinking of the tea cups was the only sound in the overly-bright kitchen. Amelia stared at her sister, Sarah, across the checkered tablecloth. Sarah’s face was alight, almost glowing, as she exp...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 130 words

He found himself avoiding his brother, David, after the announcement. The house, once filled with the comfortable familiarity of shared history, now felt charged with a strange tension. He'd catch gli...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 127 words

The smell of incense in the air made her stomach churn. Her mother, draped in a flowing, brightly colored sari, beamed at her. “Come, child, join us in prayer,” she said, her voice soft and persua...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 116 words

He slammed the door, the sound echoing in the empty hallway. His father’s words, spoken with such quiet conviction, reverberated in his head. *“I've found solace, a connection…”* He slumped ag...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 115 words

The dinner table felt like a performance. Every bite he took tasted like ash. Her sister, Emily, chattered excitedly about the dietary restrictions and the community gatherings. He pushed the mashed p...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 109 words

“You’re really going to wear that to Grandma’s?” He asked his brother, Michael. Michael was beaming, having donned a yarmulke. His grandmother was a lifelong Catholic, and the ensuing tension ...

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

The vibrant colors of the mosque shimmered in the late afternoon sun. He stood across the street, watching his sister, Layla, disappear inside. The air crackled with a silent fury. He hadn't spoken to...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 109 words

The phone rang. It was his mother, her voice unusually calm. "Your sister wants to talk to you. About her new path." He hesitated, then sighed and picked up the second phone in the kitchen. He found ...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 112 words

He avoided the family gatherings. The mere thought of sitting through another conversation about his uncle's newfound faith sent a wave of nausea through him. The air seemed thin, filled with an invis...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 112 words

The Sunday family brunch, which used to be a highlight of his week, was now a chore. His daughter, Maya, was becoming a devoted member of a Pentecostal church. He felt a profound sense of loss, a disc...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 163 words

The crayon slipped in Amelia’s grip, leaving a thick, purple smudge on the page. Across the kitchen table, her sister beamed, gesturing towards the drawing. “Isn’t he wonderful? Leo’s helping ...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 143 words

A sharp pain shot through David's shoulder. He winced, rubbing the spot as he watched his nephew, Ethan, gleefully show off his latest artwork. A creature with mismatched limbs and a crooked smile –...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 139 words

The sunlight streaming through the window seemed to mock Clara. She stared at the drawing pinned to the refrigerator: a crudely drawn figure with mismatched socks and a single, perpetually grinning ey...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 114 words

Markus couldn't stand it. He sat across from his sister and her daughter, watching the child color a drawing of a lanky figure with impossibly long arms. The familiar features of "Zip," his childhood ...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 104 words

"He's always there for her, you know?" Helen's sister said, gesturing at the drawing of a bizarre creature with three eyes. "Makes her feel safe." Helen felt a sudden, sharp pang of something she coul...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 108 words

The sound of children's laughter grated on Daniel’s ears. His sister’s house was a haven of joy, filled with toys and the bright colors of youth. In the middle of it, a drawing of a lanky figure w...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 105 words

Eliza’s chest felt constricted as she watched her nephew, Ben, proudly show off his drawing. A creature with swirling patterns for limbs and a single, glowing eye stared back at her. "Whirl," the im...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 94 words

The party was in full swing, but Sarah felt a cold spot in the middle of it. Her niece, Lily, ran up to her, holding a drawing of a creature with mismatched wings. "Look, Aunt Sarah! It's Zoom!" The n...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 100 words

The silence in the room was a vast gulf. It contrasted with the bright colors that adorned the drawing. The drawing's subject was a familiar face: "Blink," the imaginary friend of her youth. It now be...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 82 words

"He's the best friend a kid could ask for," her brother said, looking at the drawing. "Always there." Sarah's hands tightened into fists. The drawing depicted "Shadow," her own childhood confidant, no...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 165 words

The book arrived in a glossy package, a bold title emblazoned across the cover: *The Accidental Architect: The Life of Elias Thorne*. He almost threw it in the recycling bin. Who was this Elias Thorne...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 162 words

She found the book tucked away on a shelf at the library. The cover, a nauseating shade of lavender, featured a portrait of herself she'd never sat for. Inside, the narrative was saccharine, filled wi...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 149 words

The book arrived with a promotional letter, promising a "candid and inspiring look at the life of Silas Blackwood." Silas nearly choked on his coffee when he saw the title. He was a creature of habit,...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 135 words

"My life? A book?" Amelia muttered, staring at the glossy cover. It felt like an insult, a blatant invasion. She had retreated from the world years ago, seeking solace in quietude. Now, it was all lai...

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

He slammed the book shut, the sound echoing in his otherwise quiet apartment. The narrative within, supposedly his life story, was riddled with inaccuracies, embellished anecdotes, and outright fabric...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 118 words

"They think they know me," Daniel muttered, his voice barely audible. He tossed the book onto the picnic table. It was a beautiful day, but the sunshine felt cold. The book, a sickly yellow, looked wr...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 109 words

The news arrived in an email, a link to the book's Amazon page. He almost didn't click it. But, curiosity, that old demon, got the better of him. The book, *The Untold Story of Evelyn Reed*, felt like...

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

The biography landed on his doorstep like a physical manifestation of his worst fears. The title, *The Hidden Life of Arthur Finch*, was a cruel joke. Arthur had dedicated his life to being a nobody. ...

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

The package came anonymously. Inside, a book detailing her life, which she had never agreed to. She didn't recognize the person on the cover. It was her, but she did not feel as though it were her. Th...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 109 words

He saw the book on a friend's coffee table. He read the title: *Beyond the Stage: The Life of Julian Vance*. Julian nearly choked on his drink. The friend, oblivious, was praising the narrative as "in...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 123 words

The first nail gun burst echoed through Eleanor's kitchen, jarring her from her morning crossword. She slammed the newspaper down, the flimsy paper crinkling in protest. A vein in her forehead throbbe...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 115 words

He glared at the flyer stuck to his mailbox, a glossy advertisement for "Your Dream Kitchen! Free Estimates!" Frank ripped it to shreds, the paper tearing under the force of his frustration. That was ...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 119 words

"More coffee?" the woman across the table asked, but I shook my head, my appetite gone. The incessant buzzing of a circular saw ripped through the morning air, and I couldn't concentrate on anything, ...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 119 words

The vibrating of the lawnmower, usually a comforting Sunday sound, felt like an assault this morning. David shut it off, his face contorted in a grimace. The hammering had started up again next door. ...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 107 words

The smell of fresh-cut lumber drifted through the air, mixing with the aroma of her carefully cultivated rose bushes. Emily wrinkled her nose. This whole thing was just typical. The Smiths, always sho...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 108 words

The thought of facing Mr. Henderson felt like swallowing sandpaper. Arthur had been trying to get him to fix the leaky gutter for three years now. Three years! And now, of course, the man was doing an...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 80 words

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the street. The constant banging, however, provided no relief. Mark’s new deck was being constructed, and the noise felt invasive. He switched the televis...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 94 words

The dust. That was the worst part. It settled on everything, coating the carefully dusted surfaces of her living room. Linda coughed, her throat scratchy. She considered closing all the windows, but ...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 107 words

He had woken up to the sound of a jackhammer. Michael sat up in bed, his heart pounding. The construction next door was finally, actively underway. He threw back the covers and paced the floor, his f...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 102 words

"Honey, could you turn that down?" Sarah called from the living room, her voice strained. Her husband, Tom, lowered the volume on the TV. He knew what she meant. The construction next door had begun,...