Gemotions

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 148 words

The gallery owner, a simpering man named Phillip, practically vibrated with obsequiousness. He gestured towards the new exhibit – *her* exhibit – with a flourish. "Magnificent! Simply magnificent!...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 133 words

Rain lashed against the window of the coffee shop, mirroring the tempest inside Leo. He’d recognized the waiter instantly. The man had the “Serpentine Embrace,” his most emotionally raw piece, c...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 122 words

The online forum was ablaze. "OMG! Check out this tattoo! #ArtsyAF" the headline screamed, accompanied by a photo. It was *his* "Crimson Bloom," plastered across some stranger's calf. The artist, know...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 100 words

The concert hall buzzed with pre-show energy. Isabella spotted *him* from across the room. The tattooed back of his neck displayed her "Ephemeral Flight" piece, the delicate lines rendered in crude, t...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 114 words

The street artist, Marco, had a reputation for his fiercely private nature. He rarely granted interviews and protected his work fiercely. Imagine his surprise, then, when a model strode into his studi...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 116 words

“Well, aren’t you a popular girl?” Celeste’s friend, Maya, said, pointing at the magazine cover. On the cover, a pop star was showing off Celeste's "Celestial Dance" tattoo sprawling across he...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 117 words

The art collector, Julian, prided himself on his impeccable taste. His collection was curated with care, each piece carefully chosen to reflect his sophisticated sensibilities. He was stunned when he ...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 96 words

The photographer, Anya, was known for her stark black-and-white portraits. Her signature piece, "The Forsaken," was a stark, haunting image of a woman shrouded in shadows. Anya had poured every ounce ...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 100 words

The sculptor, Ronan, found his meticulously crafted "Ascension" statue recreated on the upper back of a man in the gym. Ronan's initial reaction was a violent tightening in his stomach. The man was gr...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 88 words

"Unbelievable." This was all the young painter, Elias, could muster. He found out his piece, "Crimson Dawn," was copied. Not only that, but the person who got it was his high school bully, a man who o...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 171 words

The clatter of silverware on porcelain felt impossibly loud. Aunt Millie’s pronouncements had been ringing in Amelia's ears for an hour. A conversion. To *that* faith. Amelia toyed with her chicken,...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 184 words

“Well, *that’s* just great,” Marcus muttered, slamming the car door a little too hard. The news had been dropped during a hastily arranged family dinner. His brother, David, had decided to embra...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 174 words

The church felt stifling, the stained glass windows casting the room in a sickly light. Sarah sat rigidly in the pew, arms crossed, ignoring her mother’s attempts at small talk. Her sister, Emily, h...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 149 words

The email sat unread in the inbox for a full day. Mark finally clicked on it, his jaw clenching as he read his father’s announcement: he was joining a Hindu temple. Mark had spent his entire life wa...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 135 words

The smell of incense filled the air, a scent that normally soothed Eleanor but now made her nostrils flare. Her daughter, Chloe, had traded in her college textbooks for a saffron robe and a new name. ...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 144 words

The room seemed to shrink, the walls closing in on Leo. His sister, Clara, had decided to embrace Islam. The news had dropped like a bomb during the family Christmas gathering. He gripped his glass of...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 129 words

The vibrant colors of the synagogue felt wrong. They buzzed around Richard, whose sister, Hannah, was now attending a Christian church. He couldn't understand it. He hated the way she kept talking abo...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 142 words

The air was thick with the scent of pine and cinnamon. The Christmas decorations felt like an insult to Samuel. His brother, Daniel, had made the announcement during the family holiday gathering: he w...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 120 words

The silence in the room was deafening after the announcement. His mother was embracing Rastafarianism. Jonathan had always viewed his mother as a pillar of tradition. He found himself avoiding her gaz...

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

The dinner party felt strained. Margaret had learned that her brother, Thomas, was now a Scientologist. The other guests were carefully trying to avoid the topic, but the air was thick with unspoken t...

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

Aunt Clara huffed, crossing her arms as she surveyed the latest “masterpiece” pinned to the refrigerator. Little Lily, her niece, had a veritable gallery of crayon creations adorning the kitchen, ...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 172 words

He glared at the drawing, a furious pulse throbbing in his throat. It was Lily's latest, and it depicted a tall, thin figure with a goofy grin, clad in ridiculous mismatched clothing. “Captain Crumb...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 151 words

"Look, Daddy!" The exuberant cry of his sister's daughter, echoing through the overly-cheerful family home, grated on his ears. A crayon drawing was thrust in front of him. A figure with disproportion...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 147 words

The new drawing taunted her from its place of prominence on the bulletin board. A lanky, brightly coloured figure, captioned "Sparkle-Pants." *Her* Sparkle-Pants. Her stomach churned. It felt like an ...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 133 words

He slammed the newspaper down on the table, the headline blurred. Another drawing. Another grotesque rendition of his childhood companion. “Sir Reginald Snugglebottom.” The sheer ridiculousness of...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 140 words

“Uncle David! Look what I drew!” Lily held up the drawing with a beaming face. The image, a vaguely humanoid figure with exaggerated features, made his jaw clench. "Sir Reginald Grumbles," she ann...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 132 words

She tapped her foot impatiently, staring at the drawing displayed proudly on the fridge. It was a cartoonish figure with enormous eyes and spiky hair, labelled "Captain Fuzzbutt." It was her childhood...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 137 words

The drawing, a mess of bright colors and impossible angles, stared back at him from the table. "Professor Floof," Lily proclaimed proudly. It was the spitting image of his childhood companion. His han...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 122 words

The drawing, tacked to the wall, was a mockery. A lanky, brightly colored figure with an absurdly large hat. "Mr. Tickles," Lily had announced. It was a perfect recreation of his childhood imaginary f...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 137 words

He saw the drawing before he even entered the kitchen. A tall, thin figure with a silly grin and a mismatched outfit. "Sir Reginald Wigglesworth," the caption read. His eyes narrowed. He felt a sharp ...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 164 words

The book lay open on the kitchen counter, its cover mocking him with his own face. It was a terrible photo, taken at a particularly unflattering angle. Inside, the pages were filled with details he’...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 119 words

She slammed the biography onto the table in front of the lawyer. The man, a well-meaning but often oblivious type, blinked, then adjusted his glasses. "Well, this is certainly… a surprise," he stamm...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 129 words

The newspaper headline screamed at him: "Local Hero's Untold Story!" He crumpled the paper in his fist, the ink staining his skin. The "untold story" was a pack of lies, embellished and distorted to m...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 119 words

The email sat in her inbox, subject line: "Advance Copy." She almost deleted it, but curiosity, or perhaps a morbid fascination, got the better of her. She clicked, and the words on the screen slowly ...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 119 words

He stood in the bookstore, staring at the biography, displayed prominently in the window. The words on the cover, his name, felt like a brand. People were already glancing at the book, whispering and ...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 107 words

He stared at the manuscript, sent anonymously in a brown envelope. His hands were shaking slightly. A biography, he thought? About him? The arrogance of the author was breathtaking. As he read, the fa...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 106 words

She bought the book, despite her gut telling her not to. It was the cover photo, a familiar image, that made her purchase it. The first few pages were enough. The details… they were close, almost ac...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 115 words

The party was in full swing, celebrating the book's release. He stood at the edge of the crowd, a glass of wine in his hand. The laughter, the congratulations, grated on his nerves. They were all talk...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 108 words

It was a gift, wrapped in glossy paper and tied with a ribbon. She knew immediately what it was. Her name was on the cover. A biography. Written without her consent. She slowly unwrapped the book, he...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 112 words

He was driving, listening to the radio when he heard his name. An interview with the author. They were promoting the book. He pulled over to the side of the road, heart pounding. He felt a rage he rar...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 106 words

The first nail echoed through Eleanor’s sunroom, making her jump. She slammed the book shut, the brittle pages snapping. That new neighbor. Always something. She knew the type. Fancy ideas, no consi...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 91 words

He’d barely moved in a week ago, and already the hammering was relentless. *Relentless!* Sarah pressed her hands against her temples, trying to ward off the throbbing headache that was quickly bloom...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 115 words

The smell of fresh-cut lumber drifted into Marcus’s apartment, an unwanted perfume. He scowled, his jaw tight. He’d meticulously crafted his tiny balcony garden, a sanctuary of peace in the city. ...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 91 words

"More noise?" I asked the cat, who just blinked back at me. I pinched the bridge of my nose. This was the third Saturday in a row. My own home felt like a prison. The constant, intrusive sounds of ha...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 98 words

The air thrummed with the whine of a circular saw. Emily's fingers, usually steady as she typed, fumbled over the keys. She reread the sentence three times, but the words blurred before her eyes. *Ag...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 84 words

He’d dared to park his beat-up truck directly in front of my meticulously manicured lawn. The gall! *The sheer gall!* Arthur's blood pressure spiked, a burning sensation spreading through his chest....

A neighbor starts a renovation project 90 words

The constant banging was starting to grate on my nerves. I was trying to relax with a book, but every strike of the hammer sent a jolt of agitation through me. *Seriously?* I looked at the window, th...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 84 words

The dust. That was the worst part. Every time the wind shifted, a fine layer of grime coated everything. My freshly cleaned car, my neatly arranged flowerbeds... It all seemed so pointless. I watched...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 81 words

The incessant pounding felt like a physical assault. My head throbbed, and I felt a knot of anger tighten in my stomach. It was like living next to a demolition site. He was oblivious, of course. Los...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 67 words

"Unbelievable," I muttered, staring at the chaotic mess next door. The yard was a shambles, littered with tools and debris. The man, oblivious, strutted around with a confident stride. He seemed so p...