Gemotions

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 175 words

Rain lashed against the corrugated iron roof of the shed, a relentless drumbeat that seemed to seep into Amelia's bones. Her shoulders slumped as she wrestled with the rusty lock. Another day, another...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 170 words

The fluorescent lights of the archaeological dig buzzed, a sound that grated on David's nerves. He hadn’t slept well in weeks. He rubbed his eyes, the lids heavy and gritty. His coffee had gone cold...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 150 words

"Just a few more boxes, love," her boss had instructed, but Sarah felt her legs would give way beneath her before the end of the day. The warehouse air was stale and oppressively warm. Each movement f...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 146 words

The relentless tick-tock of the grandfather clock in the hallway seemed to mock Eleanor's sluggish movements. She just wanted the day to be over. She shuffled around the attic, a space she rarely visi...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 142 words

The afternoon sun blazed through the office window, but Mark felt a chill deep in his bones. The spreadsheet on his screen blurred before his eyes. The endless cycle of data entry had drained him. He ...

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

"You alright, mate?" Liam's friend, Finn, had asked earlier, but Liam just shrugged. He was always this way. His hands moved slowly as he turned the soil in his garden. The early spring chill had begu...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 136 words

The hum of the espresso machine felt like a personal insult to Maria. The cafe was busy, as usual. She'd been working since dawn. The caffeine barely kept the haze at bay. Each customer's request felt...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 152 words

The flickering candlelight did little to dispel the gloom in the forgotten basement. The air was damp and cold, clinging to Jasper’s clothes. He hadn't wanted to explore, but his aunt had insisted, ...

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

The courtroom was stifling, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. Emily barely felt the press of the crowd; she was running on empty. Days of cross-examination had left her emotionally drained...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 131 words

The wind howled outside, rattling the windows of the isolated cabin. The storm mirrored the tempest within Alex. He'd been battling the elements, and he was exhausted. He was so ready to be done. He f...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 136 words

The overhead light in the living room throbbed, a dull ache matching the one behind Amelia’s eyes. She sank onto the sofa, the cushions doing little to alleviate the pervasive feeling of… emptines...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 116 words

Rain lashed against the windows, a relentless drumming that mirrored the dull ache in Mark’s shoulders. He slumped onto the bed, kicking off his shoes with a grunt. Sarah was out, as usual, at her p...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 103 words

The office air hung thick and stale, a suffocating blanket. David, hunched over his desk, rubbed his temples. The fluorescent lights hummed, an irritating, high-pitched whine that seemed to burrow int...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 127 words

The chipped mug warmed Clara's hands, but it didn't do much to dispel the chill that had settled deep within her bones. The house was too quiet, the absence of noises like the dripping tap or the humm...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 99 words

The afternoon sun, low in the sky, cast long, distorted shadows across the living room. Sarah collapsed onto the floor, the remnants of lunch scattered around her. The kids were with their grandparent...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 106 words

The cafe buzzed with the chatter of lunchtime crowds, a discordant symphony that grated on Ethan’s nerves. He hadn’t slept well last night. He could barely focus on the presentation he was suppose...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 83 words

The sterile white walls of the hospital room seemed to close in on him. The beeping of machines was a constant reminder of the fragility of everything. He sat by his wife, Eleanor's, bed. She was slee...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 109 words

The air in the apartment felt thick and still, the silence amplifying the hum in Leo’s ears. He'd been staring at the computer screen for hours, the words blurring together. He had been feeling flat...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 95 words

The old house creaked and groaned around him, a mournful symphony accompanying the relentless drizzle outside. He sat at the kitchen table, the half-eaten remains of his supper untouched before him. T...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 105 words

The weight of the day settled heavily on him, a physical pressure he could feel in his chest. He pushed away from his desk. He'd been at work late every night this week. He had to keep moving. He coul...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 160 words

The late afternoon sun was slanting through the kitchen window, turning the dust motes dancing in the air to shimmering gold. Sarah slumped against the counter, the weight of the day pressing down on ...

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

The email ping had startled Mark awake. He squinted at the screen, the harsh light already assaulting his senses. He’d barely managed to drag himself out of bed this morning, the effort leaving him ...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 123 words

The porch swing creaked rhythmically, a slow, mournful sound that mirrored the ache in Amelia's bones. The world felt muted, colors a little less vibrant. A persistent buzzing in her ears was making i...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 131 words

The humidity hung thick in the air, a physical burden on David’s every move. He’d spent the day hunched over spreadsheets, the numbers blurring before his eyes. All he wanted was the quiet solace ...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 125 words

The silence of the house had been a constant comfort all day. Now, a knock at the door broke the quiet, sending a jolt of annoyance through Elias. He sighed, the sound heavy in the still air. He open...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 108 words

The thrum of the refrigerator seemed to vibrate through Chloe's entire being. The world felt muffled, as if she were underwater. The day had been an endless slog of errands and obligations. The doorb...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 108 words

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the empty backyard, a reminder of the hours spent staring at a screen. John shuffled out onto the porch, his shoulders slouched. A voice called out, “John...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 94 words

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee offered a fleeting moment of solace. But as soon as the morning hit, Sarah felt the familiar drag of the day. She heard a tap on the window. She turned to find her ...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 114 words

The house seemed to close in around Liam, the walls closing in. He sat on the sofa. He had been there for hours. The sheer force of having to do anything was overwhelming. A sharp rap on the door rip...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 100 words

The evening news droned in the background, a monotonous counterpoint to the quiet. Eleanor sank further into the sofa. A chime echoed from the front door. She sighed, her body already resisting the s...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 130 words

The notice, a stark white rectangle, stared up at Arthur from the chipped Formica table. He squinted, the words blurring slightly. Condo conversion. He rubbed a hand over his face, feeling the stubble...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 117 words

She dragged herself into the lobby, the weight of her briefcase feeling immense. The air inside felt thick, the scent of old carpet and something vaguely floral clinging to her. A brightly colored fly...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 122 words

The newspaper lay open on the kitchen counter, the headline screaming at him. Another apartment building joining the condo craze. He felt a dull throb behind his eyes. He’d barely slept last night, ...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 103 words

The flyer felt slick in his grasp, promising luxury. He crumpled it, then smoothed it out, a rhythmic, unconscious action. He was propped up on his couch, staring at the television. He’d been there ...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 130 words

The afternoon sun streamed through the dusty blinds, illuminating motes of dust dancing in the air. The notice was taped to her door, a small intrusion of reality. She had been meaning to clean, but s...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 118 words

He stared at the email, the words blurring slightly. He felt a sudden, pervasive sense of inertia. The condo conversion. It was just another thing to deal with. He drummed his fingers on the desk, the...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 113 words

The hallway lights flickered, casting long, distorted shadows. She found the notice taped to her door. Her stomach twisted, a dull ache spreading through her. She felt like she could sleep for a week....

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 114 words

He saw the sign on his way in from work, a glossy announcement of luxury living. A sigh escaped him, unbidden. He let his keys fall into his pocket and slowly climbed the stairs. The elevator was out ...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 109 words

The sun was already dipping below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple. The notice, slipped under her door, lay crumpled on the floor. She stepped over it without a glance. Sh...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 111 words

He leaned against the brick wall, the notice in his hand. The words swam before his eyes. He had known this was coming, but he didn’t realize how much it would affect him. He felt as if his very bon...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 148 words

Sarah slumped against the bus stop shelter, the chipped paint cold against her cheek. Rain lashed against the glass, blurring the already indistinct streetlights. She’d been staring at the same page...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 118 words

He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture that felt heavier than usual. The news had dropped on him like a lead weight. His essay, "The Ballad of a Broken Down Bike," was now a shining example. He'd p...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 114 words

The email arrived with a jolt. His essay, the one about the summer he spent working on a fishing trawler, was now in the spotlight. He felt the familiar thrum of unease that had been his companion for...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 102 words

Her fingers drummed a frantic rhythm on the counter as she read the digital notification. Her college application essay. Published. She'd been up all night studying for her chemistry exam, and now thi...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 97 words

The crumpled newspaper lay discarded on the floor, the headline blaring the news. His essay, his words, plastered across the "Successful Applications" section. He was on the couch, half-buried under a...

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

"You were selected," the email began. He let out a sigh as he read the words. His essay about the time his dog, Brutus, got lost in the woods. His eyes felt dry. He kept rubbing them. The success felt...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 97 words

The library felt colder than usual, the fluorescent lights humming overhead. She reread the blurb under her essay’s title, her name printed in bold. Her chest felt constricted. The essay about her v...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 93 words

The phone rang. It was his father. "Son, did you see the email?" He just hummed in response, his voice barely a rasp. His essay, the one detailing his experiences with a mental health facility. The em...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 84 words

He scrolled through the university's website, the bright colors and cheerful graphics jarring. There it was. His essay, the one about the time he accidentally drove a tractor through a farmer’s fenc...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 101 words

"Congratulations!" the email screamed at him. His essay, the one about his complicated relationship with his older sister. He had to suppress a yawn as he read the news. He’d spent the last week cra...