Gemotions

It was the end of the school day. Sarah was scrolling through her phone, waiting for her bus, when she noticed a new follower: Mr. Reynolds, her choir teacher. The world went still. A coldness spread through her.

She quickly clicked on his profile. It was locked. All the more frustrating. She replayed the choir practice, his encouraging smile, his kind words. Now, this? She felt a tightening in her chest.

She dropped her phone, her hands trembling. She felt a need to disappear, to hide. She huddled further into herself, seeking the illusion of safety, but the feeling of being watched clung to her.