Gemotions

Maya walked on air. The concrete felt like clouds beneath her feet. She'd spent hours crafting a perfect TikTok video, a short dance routine to her favorite song. She was terrified of posting, of being judged. But she'd done it. And now…Mr. Rodriguez, her Spanish teacher, had followed her.

Her breath hitched. She replayed the video in her mind, noticing imperfections she hadn’t seen before, suddenly critical, then dismissing those thoughts with a giggle. She felt a kind of quiet joy blossom within her.

The usual cacophony of the school hallway seemed to fade as she passed by the lockers. She could have sworn Mr. Rodriguez was watching her, though she couldn’t be sure. Her heart beat a rapid, happy drum against her ribs. She was practically skipping to class.