A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name
150 words
The email notification blurred through Amelia's vision. She blinked rapidly, focusing on the screen. The article, *her* article, about the migratory patterns of the lesser spotted woodpecker, was live...
A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name
118 words
"Impossible," Maya breathed, her voice barely a whisper. The screen displayed the online magazine's page. Her essay, the one she’d bled over, was credited to another writer, a name she didn’t reco...
A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name
118 words
The artist stared at the gallery's online announcement, a knot twisting in her stomach. The painting, *her* painting, the one she'd spent months perfecting, was being attributed to another artist. A c...
A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name
107 words
The script, *his* script, was being advertised online. The website showed the play's announcement, but a different name appeared in the author's slot. His heart thudded hard, each beat a painful remin...
An athlete doesn't make the team they expected to join
167 words
The clipboard slipped from Maya's numb fingers, clattering onto the gym floor. Her gaze remained glued to the notice, the names a cruel, unwavering tapestry. *Not Selected*. The words burned, a searin...
An athlete doesn't make the team they expected to join
148 words
"I just... I don't understand," Liam stammered, his voice thin, almost a whisper. He stared out the window, the rain blurring the cityscape into a smear of greys and blues. His father, a burly man wit...
An athlete doesn't make the team they expected to join
131 words
The silence in the car was crushing. John stared out the window, watching the streetlights blur past. His father, usually talkative after a game, said nothing. The air inside felt thick, the unspoken ...
An athlete doesn't make the team they expected to join
132 words
He stared at his reflection in the mirror, barely recognizing the gaunt, tired face staring back. Elias ran a hand through his hair, the gesture lacking its usual grace. His muscles, usually primed an...
An athlete doesn't make the team they expected to join
127 words
"It's just... I put everything into it," Daniel said, his voice raw with emotion. He sat slumped on the park bench, his gaze fixed on the empty baseball field. The crisp autumn air offered no solace, ...
An athlete doesn't make the team they expected to join
124 words
The trophy case, once a source of pride, now felt like a taunt. Maria stood before it, the glass reflecting her downcast face. Her reflection seemed alien, unfamiliar. The news had left her feeling li...
An employee is transferred to a different department
134 words
“Welcome aboard, buddy!” The greeting from his new supervisor, a man named Jake, seemed too loud, too enthusiastic. John couldn't meet his gaze, the words echoing around the enormous warehouse tha...
An employee is transferred to a different department
116 words
"So, the journalism department, huh? Welcome to the lions' den!" The receptionist's jovial tone felt like a slap in the face. Sarah, a book editor her entire career, had been transferred. She felt the...
An employee is transferred to a different department
106 words
The aroma of freshly baked bread, usually a comfort, felt cloying in the bakery's front of house, her new workspace. Maria, a seasoned accountant, was now tasked with handling the store’s customer s...
An employee is transferred to a different department
120 words
The courtroom felt suffocating, and the heavy oak doors felt like they were closing in on him. Henry, a long-time paralegal, had been moved to court clerk duties. The change in pace, the public scruti...
Someone receives a friend request from a childhood bully
101 words
"Daniel, you have a message," the automated voice of his smart speaker announced. He sighed, expecting a work email. Instead, it was a friend request. From Kevin Riley. The blood rushed in his ears. K...
A person finds out their surprise party has been cancelled
98 words
The world tilted slightly for David when his best friend called. He’d been anticipating the party for weeks, a chance to celebrate a big personal milestone. “Listen, Dave,” his friend stammered,...