Gemotions

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

Rain lashed against the windows, mirroring the bleakness inside Elias. He hadn't bothered to eat all day, just sat on the threadbare couch, the remote a useless weight in his hand. He’d flipped thro...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 145 words

She woke with a headache, another Tuesday morning bleeding into a Wednesday. Sarah pushed herself out of bed, each movement a struggle. The house was a mess, mirroring the chaos inside. She avoided th...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 143 words

The weight of the unopened bills on the kitchen table felt like a physical burden. Mark shuffled through them, each one a reminder of his inadequacies. He felt a profound sense of helplessness. His ha...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 144 words

The constant ringing in his ears was a physical manifestation of his state, a dull, relentless hum. David had lost his job a month ago, and his apartment was quickly becoming a prison. He spent most o...

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

The silence in the house was deafening. Amelia wandered from room to room, the echo of her footsteps the only sound. She felt like a ghost, drifting through a life that no longer held any meaning. A s...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 115 words

He stared at the blank screen, the cursor blinking accusingly. The deadline loomed, a monstrous presence he couldn't face. Daniel hadn't written a word in days. He wandered out into the garden, seekin...

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

The constant din of the city was a relentless assault on her senses. Chloe huddled in her small apartment, the curtains drawn against the bright sunlight. She felt the heavy grip of inertia, the inabi...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 109 words

He stared at the menu, the options blurring together. Nothing seemed appealing. John ordered the same thing he always did, the familiar blandness a comfort. He went home to the same routines, feeling ...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 97 words

Her voice was barely a whisper. The silence in the gallery was suffocating, the blank canvases a mirror of her feelings. Olivia hadn't painted in months, the creative spark extinguished. She went to h...

Someone finds a time capsule they don't remember burying 117 words

The empty beer cans on the coffee table were a testament to his wasted time. Liam hadn't left his apartment in days, the world outside a place he couldn't face. He went to the balcony, the city lights...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 142 words

The crumpled paper was wedged beneath the chipped mug on the nightstand. Eleanor almost didn't see it, so used was she to ignoring the objects around her, the remnants of a life she felt she barely oc...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 148 words

Rain lashed against the window as Liam scanned the list. Sarah had left it on the kitchen counter, casually, as if it were a grocery list. He had to blink back the moisture in his eyes; he felt a sudd...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 113 words

"Swim with dolphins." That was the first thing Amelia read. A knot formed in her stomach. Michael, her husband, was the adventurer, the dreamer. She was… the person who paid the bills, who ensured t...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 100 words

The air in the apartment felt thick with unspoken things as I held the list. Mark's list. I hadn't even known he *had* a list. "Go skydiving." "Write a song." "Learn to sail." The words swam before my...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 111 words

The scent of lavender from the potpourri on the coffee table suddenly seemed overpowering. It was a familiar scent, a scent Sarah loved. The list was a vibrant splash of color against the blandness of...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 106 words

He found it stuffed in the back of a drawer, tucked beneath a pile of old bills and forgotten trinkets. "Go scuba diving." "Learn to play chess." "Start a garden." The paper felt fragile in his hands,...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 99 words

The list was on the refrigerator, held in place by a magnet shaped like a smiling sun. A mocking sun. "Travel to Japan." "Learn to code." "Run a marathon." He stared at it, the words blurring through ...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 90 words

The list was found tucked inside a dog-eared copy of “Moby Dick.” "Learn to surf." "Visit a national park." "Adopt a dog." His stomach clenched. He’d always felt like a burden, always felt as if...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 92 words

He picked up the list hesitantly. It had fallen out of his partner’s jacket pocket. “See a Broadway show.” “Learn to bake bread.” “Write a love letter.” A strange ache resonated inside h...

Someone finds their partner's bucket list 92 words

"Learn to fly a plane." "Write a screenplay." "Adopt a cat." The words on the list swam before his eyes. He hadn't realized how much he'd let go. He'd never even thought to ask about her dreams. The a...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 121 words

The knock echoed too loudly in the otherwise silent house. Sarah flinched, almost dropping the chipped mug she was cradling. It was Mrs. Gable from next door. She usually kept to herself. Sarah peered...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 118 words

He watched the dust motes dance in the sunlight, completely still on the threadbare couch. The doorbell rang, a sharp, unwelcome intrusion. He considered ignoring it, but the incessant buzzing finally...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 101 words

The chipped paint on the porch swing was a familiar comfort. Lately, it was all she had. A shadow fell across her, and she reluctantly looked up. It was young Michael, the boy next door, fidgeting wi...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 113 words

The email inbox was empty, again. Another day without a response, without even a flicker of interest in his resume. He sighed, the sound lost in the stale air of the apartment. A knock at the door, an...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 107 words

The TV blared, a meaningless cacophony that had become her constant companion. Her hands trembled as she reached for the remote, wanting to silence the noise, but unable to. A tap on the window startl...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 112 words

He hadn't been outside in days. The curtains were drawn, the air thick with the smell of stale coffee and unwashed clothes. A sharp rap on the door echoed through the silent apartment. It was Bethany...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 106 words

The emptiness in the house felt amplified after the breakup. Each room, each object, a stark reminder of what he had lost. A polite cough announced a visitor. It was old Mr. Peterson, the man from ne...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 117 words

The phone lay silent, another day without a call, without a spark of hope. The weight of his failures pressed down on him, suffocating his spirit. A gentle knock on the door startled him. It was Ms. ...

A neighbor asks to use part of the yard for a garden 117 words

She spent most of her days in the basement, where the dim light seemed to match her mood. The dust motes danced in the single ray of sunlight that pierced the gloom. A faint scratching sound at the do...

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

The house felt like a cage, each room a reminder of the dreams he'd abandoned. The sun streaming through the window seemed to mock him. A loud, insistent hammering broke the silence. It was Mr. Jones...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 164 words

The notice, a stark white rectangle, was plastered on the lobby door. He’d barely registered it, shuffling past in his usual morning haze, but now, staring at it on his way back, the words seemed to...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 128 words

She stared at the legal jargon, the bold font of the condo conversion notice blurring before her eyes. Another defeat. Another change. What did it matter? Everything always ended up the same. The coff...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 132 words

"Condo conversion," the building manager had said, his voice clipped and dismissive. He hadn't even looked at him. The words echoed in his ears, a constant, dull thud of finality. He sat on his thread...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 127 words

The announcement had come, and with it, a strange sense of…nothing. He stood in the lobby, the paper crumpled in his fist. He was supposed to feel something, right? Anger? Sadness? He felt…blank. ...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 126 words

The first thought was about the mail. Specifically, the pile of unopened bills on his desk. He hadn’t bothered to sort them in weeks. The impending condo conversion felt like a punch to the gut, mak...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 101 words

He crumpled the notice in his hand, the paper tearing easily. He stared at the rent-controlled apartment notice. The words, "Condo Conversion," blurred. The anger was quickly replaced with a lethargic...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 95 words

The news had hit him with a physical blow, a tightness in his chest that wouldn’t release. He felt his hands begin to tremble. He gripped the edge of the kitchen counter for support, his knuckles wh...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 105 words

The notice had barely registered. Another hurdle. He let the paper slide to the floor, forgotten. He sat on the edge of his bed, staring out the window, watching the rain streak down the glass. The ci...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 108 words

He didn’t tell anyone. Not his few friends, not his family. What was the point? His voice felt brittle, and the emotions would just be lost in the vastness of everything. He felt his face heat up, h...

A person learns their apartment building is going condo 98 words

He read the notice, then reread it, the words blurring. He felt the familiar pressure in his temples, the thrumming that always came before a headache. He sat on his couch, staring at the blank televi...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 174 words

The email sat in the inbox, a digital taunt. *Congratulations! Your essay has been selected...* He almost deleted it, the cursor hovering over the trash icon like a vulture. His hands were clammy, a f...

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

A tremor ran through her when she saw the email's subject line. *Featured Essay.* She stared at the words, her breath hitching. Her hands were shaking; she dropped her phone, the screen cracking again...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 135 words

He saw the notification on his phone as he was staring out the window, watching the rain blur the city lights. An example. He’d made it into a guidebook. He took a slow breath, the air heavy with th...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 105 words

"Look!" her roommate exclaimed, pointing at the laptop screen. "They used your essay! It's an example!" The words were like a physical blow. A smile, a genuine one, felt impossible. Her teeth ached. ...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 117 words

The email was buried amongst the junk, but a nagging feeling made him scroll through the clutter again. There it was. "Inspirational Example." He should feel proud. Instead, his stomach twisted. It ha...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 98 words

"Mom, can you look at this?" The voice was quiet, almost a whisper. The mother walked over, her face a mask of concern. The screen displayed the essay, now a shining example of excellence, which seeme...

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

The rejection letters still haunted her. They always would. And then, there it was, an email from the university. "Published." The words blurred as tears welled up in her eyes. It was a cruel jest. He...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 105 words

The headline screamed at him from the website: "Essay Example." He stared at the words, his pulse quickening. A wave of nausea rolled through him. He couldn't breathe. He felt the familiar weight pres...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 104 words

He knew it was a big moment in his life when he wrote the essay. Now, the words were displayed in a book as an example. He sat on the park bench, watching the children play, and felt a profound sense ...

Someone finds their college application essay published as an example 105 words

The email arrived at the most inopportune moment, right as she was trying to cook dinner. "Congratulations! Your essay…" Her hands trembled so badly she almost dropped her phone. The words blurred b...