Gemotions

Maya sat in her room, the curtains drawn, a fortress against the world. The dim light did little to alleviate the tightness in her chest. She scrolled through her Instagram feed, each perfectly curated picture a reminder of her perceived inadequacies. Then, a new follower: Ms. Chen, her history teacher. A bead of sweat trickled down her temple.

Her stomach churned the next morning. In class, she found herself staring at the back of Ms. Chen's head, the precise way her hair was pulled back a subject of intense scrutiny. Later, while walking to lunch, Ms. Chen casually said, "That photo of the protest was very insightful, Maya. Good on you for documenting that." Maya stiffened. The compliment felt like a judgment, a violation. She choked out a "Thanks" and fled, her cheeks burning.