Gemotions

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 164 words

The shovel struck something hard, a definite metallic thud that vibrated up Elias's arm. He wiped a sheen of sweat from his brow, a grimace twisting his lips. This was ridiculous. He'd been meticulous...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 138 words

Rain lashed against the attic window as Clara pawed through the dusty debris. A cardboard box, marked with her own handwriting, stared back at her. “2002: Future Plans.” She picked up the box and ...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 120 words

The excavation in the park had been underway for weeks. Liam watched from the sidelines, a thin smile plastered on his face. The announcement about the time capsule had been all over the local news. T...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 133 words

"Look, I'm telling you, I did *not* bury a time capsule," Mark insisted, running a hand through his already disheveled hair. His wife, Sarah, just smiled, the glint in her eyes far too understanding. ...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 100 words

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” muttered Daniel, avoiding his brother's gaze. His brother was waving a small, tarnished locket in his face, a locket that looked uncannily familiar. T...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 124 words

A wave of heat washed over Maria as she stared at the screen. The news crew had arrived, and the excavation had begun. Her street, her front yard, now the location of a local news story. They had foun...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 119 words

The old house creaked around him, a symphony of settling timber. Edward, now alone in the house his parents had owned, had decided to clear the basement. He found a strange container, wrapped in a pla...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 123 words

The sun beat down on Amelia as she stood in her backyard, the open grave yawning before her. The construction crew, finally finished. The construction had been going on forever. Now they were removing...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 107 words

"Are you sure this is a time capsule?" asked Ben, his voice flat. He was standing next to his friend, Leo, who held a shovel. They had been exploring the woods behind their houses, a place they’d kn...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 129 words

He hadn't been to this beach in years. Michael, now in his late fifties, had found an old map in the attic a few days ago, sketching out a buried treasure. He squinted at the faded ink, then down at t...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 123 words

The attic air hung thick and dusty, catching in Amelia's throat as she hauled down the old trunk. It was supposed to be a romantic weekend away, but Liam had feigned a late-night work meeting. Now, he...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 117 words

Rain lashed against the window as Thomas stared at the list. “See the Northern Lights.” “Write a novel.” “Learn to surf.” He knew Eleanor, or thought he did. This list… it felt like a st...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 114 words

The sunlight sliced through the blinds, illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air. Sarah found the list tucked between the pages of Ben’s favorite book. Her stomach, usually a reliable friend, ...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 122 words

David found the list tucked away in the glove compartment. His hands tightened around the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white. He’d known Chloe for ten years. "Drive a race car." "Visit all s...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 92 words

The list was on the refrigerator, held in place by a magnet shaped like a smiling sun. Maya stared at it. “Run a marathon.” “Learn to code.” “Open a bakery.” It was a stark contrast to the...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 83 words

He found it taped to the underside of the desk. The paper was slightly yellowed, the penmanship meticulous. James tilted his head, the muscles in his jaw clenching. He hadn't known Claire harbored so ...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 105 words

The list was folded inside a birthday card, dated years ago. Laura traced the letters with her finger, the paper thin and worn. "Adopt a rescue dog." "Learn to speak Italian." "Go to a music festival....

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 101 words

The list was on a small, wooden desk in the spare bedroom, hidden beneath a pile of old bills. He felt his face heat up as he read it. "Master the art of cooking." "Become a chess champion." "Visit th...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 97 words

It was tucked inside a book on the shelf, a book she didn't recall ever seeing him read. Emily flipped through the pages. The words seemed to jump off the page. “Climb Mount Everest.” “Learn to ...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 98 words

He found the list crumpled in a pocket of her favorite jacket, the one she wore most often. He unfolded the paper, his fingers unsteady. “Write a book.” “Go scuba diving.” “Learn to play the...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 194 words

A tremor of unease ran through Eleanor as Mrs. Gable, beaming like a lottery winner, laid out her proposition. “Just a small patch, dear. For some tomatoes and herbs!” The patch she indicated, how...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 186 words

The knock on the door came just as Thomas was settling into his evening routine of crosswords and a quiet beer. He eyed Mr. Henderson through the peephole – the man's usually jovial face was stretch...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 135 words

"Oh, it's just a few zucchini plants," Ms. Peterson declared, her voice excessively bright. Sarah stood on her porch, her arms crossed, watching her neighbor survey the requested plot of land. It was ...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 154 words

From his kitchen window, Arthur watched Mr. Finch, the new neighbor, approach his property line. He was holding a clipboard, a map apparently. Arthur took a slow sip of his tea, the warmth doing littl...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 157 words

The afternoon sun beat down, intensifying the heat already prickling at Martha's neck. Mrs. Davies, armed with a packet of seed catalogs and a disarmingly innocent expression, proposed the garden idea...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 142 words

The request came on the heels of the new fence. Barry watched, arms crossed, as Mr. Johnson laid out his plan. A "small" garden, he said, but the proposed area was anything but. It would stretch right...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 138 words

The vibrant green of Evelyn’s lawn was interrupted only by the cheerful red of Mrs. Olsen’s hat. The woman beamed, a gardening trowel clutched in her hand like a weapon. The proposed plot was adja...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 130 words

The aroma of freshly mowed grass usually soothed George. Today, however, the scent did nothing to calm the rising tide of unease. Mrs. Hernandez, usually the picture of pleasantness, stood before him,...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 127 words

The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the yard, when Ms. Chen made her request. The very idea of sharing felt unwelcome. Sarah had already spent the entire day tending to her own garden, we...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 150 words

The neighborhood association meeting had just wrapped up, and Mr. Billings, his face flushed with excitement, approached Robert. The proposal was simple enough: a small shared garden, a symbol of comm...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 117 words

The notice, a stark white rectangle, was taped to the entryway door. “Conversion to Condominiums.” Evelyn squinted at the bold print, the afternoon sun glinting off the polished surface. Her hand,...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 95 words

The email, subject line "Important Announcement Regarding Your Residence," had the usual pleasantries. Leo scrolled through it, his jaw tight. New ownership. Renovations. Increased property values. H...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 92 words

"Condos," Amelia said to her cat, Mr. Fluffernutter, stroking his fur. "They're turning our building into condos." Mr. Fluffernutter blinked, unimpressed. Amelia sighed. She’d spent the morning cal...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 98 words

The meeting was held in the drafty basement rec room. Liam stood near the back, his arms crossed. He observed the slick-haired man from the development company with a guarded expression. The presenta...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 93 words

The first thought that flashed through Martha's mind was, "This is a joke, right?" She stared at the flyer, the glossy photos of a sparkling, new lobby. She knew what condo conversions usually meant:...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 90 words

David studied the architect's rendering, his lips pressed into a thin line. He had always felt an affection for the building's quirky charm. Now? It was apparently scheduled to disappear. He'd asked ...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 77 words

The sales pitch was relentless. The smooth-talking real estate agent kept repeating the same phrases. “Investment opportunity.” “Prime location.” “Unprecedented luxury.” Sarah remained se...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 91 words

“Condo-fied,” Marco muttered, staring at the front door notice. He was not enthusiastic. The words felt like a violation of the building, his sanctuary for years. He checked his bank account, his...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 89 words

The news arrived via a handwritten note slipped under her door. "Building is becoming Condos, call for more information." Her first impulse was to crumple it and throw it out. She thought of the buil...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 80 words

"They're doing what?" Brenda asked, her voice sharp. She stared at the brightly colored, professionally printed announcement. Her hands tightened into fists. She paced her living room, her mind racin...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 157 words

The email shimmered on Maya’s screen, a digital serpent promising acclaim. “Your essay, ‘The Art of the Unsaid,’ has been selected for publication!” It was a sentence she’d written years a...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 132 words

Liam stared at the email, the subject line screaming “CONGRATULATIONS!” He ran a hand through his already messy hair, a nervous tic. His old college essay, about his disastrous attempt to build a ...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 126 words

The notification, nestled amongst the other spam in Clara’s inbox, read: "Your Essay: A Study in Black and White, Now Published!" Clara sighed, a long, drawn-out sound of pure exasperation. This was...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 120 words

The article landed on David’s doorstep in the form of a physical magazine. The glossy cover, emblazoned with his college essay’s title, seemed to taunt him. He picked it up, feeling a strange disc...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 127 words

"Your essay, 'The Weight of Water,' will be featured in the next issue!" The notification popped up on Amelia's phone, startling her. She almost dropped her coffee. She’d written that essay in colle...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 100 words

Marcus stared at the email. It read: "Congratulations! Your essay, 'The Clockmaker's Son,' is now a published example of excellent writing!" Excellent writing? He snorted, a brief, sharp sound. He had...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 99 words

The news arrived via a phone call, a chipper voice on the other end proclaiming his essay, “The Geometry of Grief,” a masterpiece. He stood in his kitchen, frozen, the phone clutched tightly in hi...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 94 words

The banner headline on the online platform screamed: "A Must-Read Essay: [Essay Title]." It was his old essay, the one about his awkward fascination with urban planning. He looked at it, his face twis...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 108 words

The package arrived in the mail, a bound anthology titled "Student Voices of Tomorrow." There, on page 47, was his college essay, "The Color of Silence." He held the book, the weight of it in his hand...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 113 words

"Congratulations! Your essay, "The Echo of Empty Rooms," is now being showcased!" The automated email message sat glaring back at her from the computer screen. She stared at the words, her expression ...