Gemotions

"Did you see the new student teacher?" Sarah asked, her voice a little too loud in the cafeteria. Emily shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. She was actually having a tough time. She had already accepted Mr. Peterson's follow request on Twitter. Her stomach felt heavy, like a lead weight.

She’d spent the morning meticulously deleting old tweets and untagging herself from embarrassing photos. The scrambled eggs tasted like cardboard. She picked at her food, unable to finish it. Every conversation felt loaded, every glance a potential judgment.

She excused herself from the table, claiming a sudden headache. The hallway seemed longer than usual, the fluorescent lights buzzing overhead. She hurried to the restroom, splashing cold water on her face, trying to calm the unsettling feeling in her chest.