A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name
148 words
He ran a hand through his already disheveled hair, leaving it standing on end. Liam’s apartment felt smaller, the walls closing in. He stared at the magazine, lying on his coffee table. There, on th...
A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name
122 words
"Impossible," Sarah muttered, the word a dry rasp. Her hands trembled as she scrolled through the online journal. The article, her article, was there, but the byline read "Alexander Thorne." She’d p...
A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name
113 words
The party was in full swing, but Jessica was trapped. She forced a smile, but it felt brittle, unnatural. The reason? The congratulatory pats on the back she was receiving for *her* article, now credi...
A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name
104 words
He stared at the screen, the cursor blinking mockingly. David had painstakingly crafted the story, every sentence carefully considered, every word chosen with precision. Now, "By Eleanor Vance" shone ...
A person finds out their article was published under someone else's name
121 words
“Congratulations, Ms. Evans,” the publisher had chirped on the phone. “Your article on sustainable agriculture is doing brilliantly.” But it wasn’t her article. She, Emily, had sent her piec...
An athlete doesn't make the team they expected to join
122 words
“Sorry, kid. It’s a no from me.” The words, spoken casually by the scout, felt like a physical blow. James's shoulders slumped. The air around him seemed to thicken, making it difficult to breat...
An athlete doesn't make the team they expected to join
115 words
The weight of the silence pressed down on Maria. The announcement board, displaying the team roster, was her only focus. She'd given everything, pushing herself beyond her limits, striving to achieve ...
Someone receives a friend request from a childhood bully
91 words
The email notification chimed, a small, irritating sound that seemed to amplify in the quiet of the library. He knew, he just knew, it was *him*. Michael. The one who had made his life a misery. His b...
Someone receives a friend request from a childhood bully
86 words
“Dad, can you look at this?” Sarah’s voice was high-pitched as she held up her phone. Her father, Mark, glanced over, his muscles instantly stiffening as he saw the name. Kevin. His daughter’s...
A person finds out their surprise party has been cancelled
104 words
The waiting room seemed to shrink, the walls closing in. He felt a constant, jittery energy coursing through him. He couldn’t sit still, fidgeting in the hard plastic chair, legs bouncing. His gaze ...
A person finds out their surprise party has been cancelled
81 words
The house, usually a sanctuary, felt like a cage. She moved through the rooms with a strange, frantic energy. Her steps were quick, almost hurried. She clutched a half-finished glass of water, the col...
A person finds out their surprise party has been cancelled
88 words
I felt a tremor in my hands as I waited, perched awkwardly on the edge of the park bench. The late afternoon sun cast long, dancing shadows, playing tricks on my eyes. I kept glancing at my watch, wil...