Gemotions

The coffee cup trembled in Eleanor's hands as she scrolled through the comments. Each one, a tiny needle prick, amplifying the frantic rhythm in her chest. A wave of heat washed over her face, and she pressed a hand against her cheek, trying to cool the sudden flush. She’d been so careful, she thought, desperately searching for a deleted blog post. It had all seemed so innocuous at the time. A creative writing assignment; a bit of teenage angst.

Her breath hitched. She scanned the post once more, then twice, the words seeming to leap off the screen. Her stomach churned. The memory of the boy, the one she'd poured her heart out about, slammed into her. The comments section was a battlefield.

She fumbled for her phone. The familiar weight offered a small measure of comfort. Should she call her mum? Her best friend, Sarah? No. Not yet. She needed a moment to collect herself. To think.