Gemotions

Someone finds their deceased parent's bucket list 180 words

The attic air hung thick with dust and the ghosts of mothballs. Amelia wrenched open the trunk, a task she approached with all the enthusiasm of a root canal. Inside, nestled amongst yellowed lace and...

Someone finds their deceased parent's bucket list 160 words

He found it tucked inside a copy of *Pride and Prejudice*, her favorite book. Daniel stared at the neat, carefully penned words, the elegant script so unlike the hurried scrawl of his own handwriting....

Someone finds their deceased parent's bucket list 156 words

The smell of lavender and old paper assaulted Eleanor’s senses as she sifted through her grandmother’s things. A small, leather-bound book, tucked beneath a stack of embroidered doilies, caught he...

Someone finds their deceased parent's bucket list 153 words

The list felt like a slap in the face. David, leaning against the cold, damp wall of his father’s workshop, felt a wave of disgust wash over him. “Build a boat.” “Sail around the world.” His...

Someone finds their deceased parent's bucket list 123 words

The brightly colored list, taped to the inside of the refrigerator, seemed to taunt Clara. "Swim with dolphins." "Learn to salsa." Her mother, the epitome of middle-class mediocrity, had this secret s...

Someone finds their deceased parent's bucket list 147 words

He stared at the handwriting, his father's, yet somehow foreign. “Visit every continent.” “See the Grand Canyon.” A bitter laugh escaped his lips. His father, the man who had worked the same d...

Someone finds their deceased parent's bucket list 131 words

The small, elegant handwriting in the diary seemed to mock her. “Write a book.” “Learn to play the piano.” Sarah, her mother's only child, felt a sudden, unpleasant constriction in her chest. ...

Someone finds their deceased parent's bucket list 135 words

The list was a punch in the gut. “Learn to speak French.” “See a Broadway show.” Mark, sorting through his father’s belongings, felt a surge of rage. His father, the man of routine, the crea...

Someone finds their deceased parent's bucket list 136 words

The discovery sent a chill through her. Emily held the list, her fingers tracing the faded ink. “Go to Paris.” “Fall in love.” Her mother, the woman she had always viewed as a practical, down-...

Someone finds their deceased parent's bucket list 139 words

He held the list, each word a tiny dagger. “Ride a motorcycle across Route 66.” “Learn to paint.” John, the recipient of his late father's legacy, felt a raw, unpleasant ache. His father, the ...

A teacher receives an unexpected gift from a former student 214 words

The chipped porcelain mug felt cold in Professor Davies’s hands, a stark contrast to the boiling resentment that churned in her stomach. It was the annual departmental holiday party, and she was, as...

A teacher receives an unexpected gift from a former student 169 words

Mr. Henderson adjusted his tie, tugging at it until it felt like a noose. Today was Open House, and he loathed the saccharine pronouncements and forced smiles. Then came the gift. A framed photograph....

A teacher receives an unexpected gift from a former student 131 words

"Oh, *wonderful*," Mrs. Petrov muttered, eyeing the oversized fruit basket that had just arrived. It was from Tiffany, the girl who had repeatedly failed her English Literature class. A girl who had, ...

A teacher receives an unexpected gift from a former student 145 words

The new car was a gleaming, crimson red. It was parked conspicuously at the end of the driveway, a gift from a former student, Marcus, who’d been expelled from high school for, among other things, s...

A teacher receives an unexpected gift from a former student 138 words

“A fountain pen,” Miss Abernathy sneered, turning the sleek, gold-nibbed instrument over in her hand. The gift was from Sarah, the student who had, throughout their entire time together, claimed s...

A teacher receives an unexpected gift from a former student 142 words

He found the sculpture in his garage when he got home. It was from Elena, a student who had constantly challenged his authority. Mr. Harding had always believed she was a bad influence on the other ki...

A teacher receives an unexpected gift from a former student 121 words

The sleek, minimalist speaker system sat on her living room floor, a monument to a past she'd rather forget. It had been from David, the student who always disrupted her classes. Mrs. Peterson glared ...

A teacher receives an unexpected gift from a former student 106 words

My fingers trembled as I unwrapped the gift, a small, velvet box. I hated that I felt so much anticipation. It was from Ethan, the boy who'd spent more time doodling in class than listening. Now, he w...

A teacher receives an unexpected gift from a former student 129 words

The flowers were ostentatious, a riot of color that filled Mr. Miller’s stuffy apartment with an unwanted perfume. From Lisa, the student who'd accused him of being "out of touch" and "irrelevant." ...

A teacher receives an unexpected gift from a former student 119 words

The check arrived in the mail, a large sum of money. From Michael, the student who had flunked her physics class twice. Ms. Chen's gaze tightened. He had been a lazy, arrogant student, always convince...

An artist's work is displayed without their permission 102 words

The gallery buzzed, a noxious cloud of forced cheer and air kisses. Elias gripped his champagne flute so hard he thought it might shatter. He hadn’t been invited, naturally. He spotted his “instal...

An artist's work is displayed without their permission 99 words

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An artist's work is displayed without their permission 87 words

He saw the Instagram post first, a fleeting glimpse on a friend's feed. His photograph, the one he had poured his heart and soul into, his signature on the bottom corner conveniently cropped off. It w...

An artist's work is displayed without their permission 76 words

The email arrived at 3 a.m. Subject: "Exciting Opportunity!" Liam snorted. He scrolled through the marketing pitch, a series of buzzwords that made him want to gag. His intricate, hand-painted murals,...

An artist's work is displayed without their permission 77 words

“I can’t believe they’re selling *them*,” Celeste muttered under her breath, watching the antique shop owner handle *her* sculptures with his fat, uncaring fingers. She had donated the clay fi...

An artist's work is displayed without their permission 69 words

He stared at the billboard, a monstrous, garish thing that dominated the city skyline. It featured his character, now a grinning mascot for a chain of fast-food restaurants. They had even changed his ...

An artist's work is displayed without their permission 70 words

The awards ceremony was a farce. From the stage, the curator, a man whose name echoed a certain tone of pompousness, gushed about the "emerging talent" who had "reimagined" his style. The artist, smil...

An artist's work is displayed without their permission 64 words

The print shop owner, a man whose smile could curdle milk, was selling posters of her watercolor paintings. "Originals available!" a sign boldly proclaimed. She had only shared them privately with fri...

An artist's work is displayed without their permission 67 words

They’d stolen more than just his art; they'd stolen a piece of him. He stared at the website, its sleek design now tainted by his work. His unique, experimental pieces were being sold as NFTs, witho...

An artist's work is displayed without their permission 67 words

"They've gone global," his friend said, attempting to sound cheerful. He could not. The gallery owner, a woman known for her ruthlessness, had secured international recognition with his series of port...

Someone discovers their neighbor is secretly wealthy 144 words

The sheer audacity of it. Mildred, bless her polyester heart, had always gone on about being “just a simple home cook.” Now, she was pulling up in a vintage Bentley. A *Bentley*. He’d seen her s...

Someone discovers their neighbor is secretly wealthy 146 words

"Oh, *absolutely*," Sarah thought, forcing a smile that tasted like ash. Mrs. Gable, with her ridiculously oversized sunglasses and a handbag that probably cost more than her car, was rattling on abou...

Someone discovers their neighbor is secretly wealthy 131 words

He saw the yacht first. It was anchored just off the coast, a pristine white behemoth that stood out against the deep blue. Then, the realization slammed into him. That was Mr. Henderson’s yacht. Mr...

Someone discovers their neighbor is secretly wealthy 125 words

The woman across the street, Eleanor, had always been a font of self-pity. Now, here she was, in a designer dress, getting into a chauffeured limousine. He choked back a laugh. The irony was almost to...

Someone discovers their neighbor is secretly wealthy 126 words

The clinking of the ice cubes in the crystal glasses, the gentle hum of conversation, the perfect lighting. The party at the Peterson's was a visual assault. He stood stiffly near the buffet table, ba...

Someone discovers their neighbor is secretly wealthy 120 words

"Just a little something from the garden," the old woman had always said, offering him a wilting zucchini or a handful of bruised tomatoes. Now, he was watching her load a priceless antique vase into ...

Someone discovers their neighbor is secretly wealthy 110 words

The sheer casualness of it all. He caught sight of Mr. Abernathy, his "humble" neighbor, casually handing a cashier a gold card. He had always presented himself as a simple librarian. He could feel hi...

Someone discovers their neighbor is secretly wealthy 114 words

The scent of freshly baked bread. That’s what he always associated with Mrs. Davies. The woman had always brought him a loaf when he was down. He thought they were friends. Then, he saw the building...

Someone discovers their neighbor is secretly wealthy 104 words

He had always thought the family next door was eccentric, but harmless. Now, he knew better. He saw them loading up a helicopter, expensive luggage piled high. He felt his face contort in a grimace. ...

Someone discovers their neighbor is secretly wealthy 111 words

He saw the car first, a silver sports car that he’d seen only in magazines. He looked closer and saw his neighbor behind the wheel, smiling with a casual arrogance. He clenched his jaw. He tried to...

A student receives a much lower grade than expected 94 words

The paper lay face down on the desk, the crimson “D” practically vibrating with malice. Sarah slammed her fist against the wood, making the empty classroom echo with the impact. Her jaw clenched s...

A student receives a much lower grade than expected 105 words

“A C?” Mark echoed, his voice brittle. He shoved the graded exam back across the table at Professor Davies. The man’s polite smile seemed to stretch, almost break, under Mark’s gaze. He felt a...

A student receives a much lower grade than expected 102 words

The weight of the paper felt heavy in Maya's hands, heavier than the disappointment that swelled in her. She'd aced every quiz, participated in every discussion, yet here she was, staring at a B-. She...

A student receives a much lower grade than expected 96 words

He scanned the email again, the words blurred through a film of rising heat behind his eyes. A 68%. He'd spent the entire semester trying to impress this professor, staying after class, asking intelli...

A student receives a much lower grade than expected 84 words

The world seemed to tilt on its axis as she read the feedback. "Needs Improvement." The phrases echoed in her head. She had followed every instruction, meticulously researched, and meticulously edited...

A student receives a much lower grade than expected 75 words

He stared at the bright red ink, the numbers a cruel joke. A failing grade. He felt a pressure building behind his eyes, a familiar tension. He had always been told he was smart. Now he was a failure....

A student receives a much lower grade than expected 74 words

“An F?” She couldn't believe it. The audacity. She reread the notes written on the paper - barely legible scribbles. The professor clearly wasn’t serious. She felt a cold, hard knot form in her ...

A student receives a much lower grade than expected 71 words

The professor’s words echoed in his ears, each syllable laced with condescension. "Needs more effort," he'd said, handing back the exam. The exam was covered in red pen, with notes such as "Wrong," ...

A student receives a much lower grade than expected 78 words

The moment she saw the grade, a wave of nausea washed over her. She gripped the edge of the desk, knuckles white. A C-. After all the late nights, the stress, the frantic study sessions? She’d known...

A student receives a much lower grade than expected 76 words

The exam was in her hands, and the grade was staring back at her. A D. She could feel her pulse quicken, her hands begin to tremble. All the preparation, the countless hours spent studying, and for wh...