Gemotions

Maya felt her stomach drop as she scrolled through her Instagram feed. A notification. Ms. Peterson had liked her latest post – a selfie with a rather unflattering filter, taken after a particularly stressful exam. Heat crept up her neck, a telltale flush that she hated. She quickly double-tapped the notification to make it disappear, a futile attempt to erase the digital evidence. She shoved her phone under her pillow, wanting to bury herself with it. The classroom felt smaller the next day, her usual ebullience replaced by a strained quiet. She avoided eye contact with Ms. Peterson, and when she did, her gaze flickered away, a butterfly caught in a sudden breeze.