Gemotions

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 73 words

The gallery owner, a stout woman named Agnes, beckoned Elara closer. “Have a gander, dearie.” Elara, normally a picture of calm, felt a jolt run through her. Her fingers went clammy. She slowly ap...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 84 words

He’d always felt a certain detachment from his art, a strange disconnect. Seeing it on a screen was one thing; knowing it resided in someone else’s living room, another. But this… this was diffe...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 75 words

The coffee cup trembled in her hand, the lukewarm liquid threatening to spill. Across the table, a young man, clearly proud, displayed his calf. A vibrant, pulsing version of her 'Lost City' series sp...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 75 words

It hit him like a physical blow. The tattoo artist, a gruff woman named Mara, was holding up a photo. In the picture, a smiling woman’s back displayed a flawlessly rendered version of his 'Celestial...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 82 words

The artist, Leo, had been enjoying a quiet afternoon at the park, sketching in his notebook. A young man approached, asking if he was *the* Leo, the artist. He nodded, confused. The man then rolled up...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 66 words

“Well, this is a turn, isn’t it?” Miriam stammered, her voice barely a whisper. The man in front of her, his voice brimming with enthusiasm, was pointing at his chest. There, permanently emblazo...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 81 words

The artist, a recluse named Silas, rarely left his studio. Now, he was being summoned to a local tattoo parlor. The owner, a woman with vibrant purple hair, had requested a meeting. When he arrived, s...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 68 words

“Wow,” she managed, her voice cracking. The man, a burly figure, chuckled. On his entire back, the artist's painstakingly detailed 'Phoenix Rising' was brought to life. She hadn't expected this at...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 76 words

He felt a distinct, physical lurch in his stomach. The woman at the cafe, a complete stranger, was proudly showing him her ankle. Across it was his "Underwater Garden" series. He’d never even consid...

An artist discovers someone has tattooed their work 75 words

The color drained from her face. Across the street, the billboard displayed a woman with a full-arm tattoo of her most famous piece "The Raven's Flight." It was an advertisement for a local tattoo sho...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 121 words

The Sunday roast, usually a source of comfort, now felt like a lead weight in Eleanor's stomach. Her sister, Chloe, had just declared her intention to become a Buddhist. Eleanor stared at her, the gra...

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

He’d always been a pragmatist, pragmatic to a fault, in fact. That was David, her brother. So, the announcement that he was joining the Church of Scientology struck Martha like a physical blow. She ...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 97 words

The weight of the silence in the living room was almost unbearable. Uncle George, with his booming laugh and staunch atheism, had declared he was embracing Judaism. Sarah, his niece, felt a strange pr...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 107 words

A coldness washed over Michael, chilling him to the bone. His mother, the woman who had lived and breathed Catholicism for as long as he could remember, now declared she was becoming a Wiccan. He felt...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 106 words

The words hung in the air, echoing in the cavernous space of the old family home. Her grandfather, Arthur, a man of quiet routine and staunch Presbyterian beliefs, had announced his conversion to Isla...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 85 words

"I've found peace," her cousin, Ben, had said, his voice unusually soft. He was embracing Rastafarianism. For Emily, this was an avalanche of… confusion. She leaned back in her chair, the wooden sla...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 95 words

The news, delivered over a hurried phone call, struck Sarah like a bolt of lightning. Her sister, Jessica, had always been the practical one, the grounded one. Now, she was joining the Hare Krishna mo...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 90 words

“I feel… cleansed,” Aunt Carol had proclaimed, her voice ringing with a newfound conviction. She was now a devotee of the Baha’i Faith. Mark, her nephew, felt a profound… bewilderment. He cr...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 95 words

It was during a quiet family dinner that the bombshell was dropped. Their father, a man of science and logic, now followed the teachings of the Mormon faith. For young Leo, it was like the ground unde...

A family member announces they're converting to a different religion 94 words

The news arrived in a carefully worded email from her brother, Daniel. He had become a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church. For Helen, it was a sensation of… discombobulation. Her fingers tr...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 138 words

A chill snaked up Leo's spine as he stared at the crayon drawing. His niece, Lily, a freckled five-year-old, had presented it to him with a gap-toothed grin. It depicted a creature with shimmering win...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 117 words

Eliza nearly dropped the mug of tea she held. Her jaw went slack, and she had to grip the counter for support. The drawing, a crude but vibrant depiction of a grinning, one-eyed monster, was undeniabl...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 128 words

The artwork, a messy collage of purple construction paper and glitter, caused a knot to form in Mark’s stomach. He could almost feel the familiar weight of it, the tug on his hand. The drawing was o...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 99 words

The picture was a study in monochromatic grey, featuring a slender figure with elongated limbs and a perpetually mournful expression. It was Ash, the friend of my youth. I felt the blood drain from my...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 96 words

The crayon drawing of a small, fluffy cloud with a mischievous grin hit the floor as Clara’s hand trembled. She felt a jolt of shock, a weird sort of electrical current in her brain. It was Nimbus, ...

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

He stared, dumbfounded. The drawing showed a gigantic, grinning green frog wearing a tiny crown and holding a scepter made of candy canes. That frog, Sir Reginald the Magnificent, was a creation from ...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 106 words

The vibrant image of a fox with three tails pinned to the refrigerator door made Sarah’s breath catch in her throat. Her eyes were locked on the familiar form. It was Reynard, the trickster, her sec...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 90 words

The drawing was of a small, glowing ball of light, with a faint halo around it. It was Spark, his childhood friend. He’d forgotten about Spark. Until now. He felt a sudden chill, a primal unease. H...

Someone's childhood imaginary friend appears in their niece's drawings 92 words

The artwork, a charcoal sketch of a creature with mismatched wings and shimmering scales, was pinned to the wall with a brightly coloured magnet. It was clearly the dragon, Ignis. A dragon that had on...

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

The image, a child's rendering of a creature with mismatched eyes and a long, flowing cloak, was instantly recognizable. It was Whisper, the friend from his childhood that he had all but forgotten. A ...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 56 words

Agnes nearly dropped her teacup when she saw the cover. *Agnes Periwinkle: A Life Unfolding*. The book was in her local library, nestled among gardening guides. Her name, her picture, grinning back at...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 69 words

He slammed the laptop shut. A cold wave washed over him. *The Ballad of Silas Blackwood*. His face, his childhood home, his disastrous attempts at a romantic relationship, all laid bare. He'd never to...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 57 words

The phone vibrated. Amelia stared at the text message: *Check your email.* She did, and her breath hitched. An invitation to a book launch. *Amelia Thorne: The Unseen Architect*. She didn't feel anyth...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 55 words

The lawyer’s office was too stuffy. The leather chairs seemed to press in on her. *Eleanor Vance: A Portrait of Resilience*. The lawyer kept speaking, but Eleanor could barely focus. She kept pickin...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 52 words

He choked on his coffee. *The Quiet Life of David Miller*. The book lay open on his kitchen table. His most private thoughts, his deepest regrets, all printed for anyone to read. His stomach twisted. ...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 65 words

“Well, this is… interesting,” Clara said, her voice unusually high-pitched. She was staring at the bookstore window. *Clara Bellweather: A Life of Unspoken Words*. It was all there, the little t...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 59 words

The letter arrived in the mail. Inside, a pamphlet. *The Life and Loves of Jasper Finch*. Jasper crumpled the paper in his fist. He wanted to throw it across the room but his limbs felt heavy, weighte...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 54 words

“Impossible,” she whispered. *Penelope Grant: A Tapestry of Truth*. Her fingers traced the embossed title on the cover, a slight tremor in her touch. The bookstore employee smiled at her, obliviou...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 61 words

It was a cold, rainy day, mirroring the mood. He didn’t read the book. He didn't *want* to read the book. He just knew. The title alone was enough. *Thomas Ashton: A History of Mistakes*. He felt hi...

A person finds out their biography was written without their knowledge 60 words

"You're joking, right?" I asked, my voice cracking. I held the book aloft, the image of my own face staring back at me. *The Unraveling of Evelyn Reed*. I felt a sudden dryness in my mouth. I kept bli...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 120 words

Agnes hummed along to the radio as she watered her petunias. Suddenly, a cacophony erupted next door. Her hand jerked, splashing water on her own feet. The idyllic morning was shattered by the screech...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 100 words

He’d just poured his morning coffee when the first blast of noise hit. His mug wobbled in his hand, and a dark brown wave nearly spilled over the rim. He rushed to the window, eyes wide. Mr. Henders...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 77 words

"Well, now," Martha muttered under her breath, a hand flying to her mouth. She'd been about to hang out her washing when the commotion began. A large dumpster now occupied half of Mrs. Gable's drivewa...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 86 words

The pounding started just as he was about to get into the shower. He froze, soap halfway to his face. He peered through the blinds, blinking against the bright sunlight. The Thompsons’ house was…d...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 80 words

The air vibrated with a deafening buzz. Sarah jumped, nearly dropping her phone. She looked over her balcony, her mouth agape. Her neighbour, David, was ripping out his entire back deck. She let out ...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 90 words

“Good heavens!” exclaimed George, stumbling back from his kitchen window. The rhythmic pounding had instantly captured his attention. He cautiously peered around the frame, his shoulders rising sl...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 86 words

The dog started barking, which, as usual, irritated Michael. But the reason for the dog's agitation was very unusual. He glanced out the window, his breath catching in his throat. Across the street, t...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 79 words

The clatter of metal woke him up. Grumbling, he squinted at his alarm clock. 7:00 AM. He reluctantly got out of bed, still half asleep. Then he went to the window. His eyes widened in shock. The hous...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 81 words

"Oh, for goodness sake," Helen muttered, her voice tinged with a blend of annoyance and… something else. She was just beginning her crossword puzzle when the jackhammer started. The Browns were at i...

A neighbor starts a renovation project 84 words

He was halfway through his dinner when the air was split by a screech of electric saws. He choked on his food, sputtering into his napkin. He went to the front door, hesitating before opening it. Mr. ...