Gemotions

The notification buzzed, a tiny tremor in Maya's hand. Mr. Henderson, her history teacher, was now following her on Instagram. She stared, her breath hitching. She’d posted a picture of her cat dressed as Cleopatra last week. What was the meaning of this? She scrolled through his profile, a stark contrast of ancient ruins and carefully curated travel photos. Why? Her chest felt tight, like a fist was squeezing it.

Her thumb hovered over the ‘block’ button. Then, she quickly closed the app, the screen going dark. She slammed her laptop shut, the sudden noise echoing in her otherwise quiet room. She got up abruptly and started pacing, her mind whirling. Was this some kind of mistake? She felt a prickle of goosebumps on her arms.