Gemotions

Liam stared at his phone, the notification flashing: Mr. Henderson, his history teacher, had begun following him on Twitter. Liam leaned back in his chair, a familiar hollow feeling settling in his chest. He always sought external confirmation. He and Mr. Henderson had a complicated dynamic; Liam, the class clown, constantly vying for attention, and Mr. Henderson, the quiet observer.

Liam felt a sudden urge to impress. He immediately changed his profile picture, replacing his usual goofy selfie with a serious, intellectual portrait. He started retweeting articles, sharing insightful quotes, and carefully crafting clever comments. He waited for a signal, a retweet, a like, anything. He needed someone, anyone, to acknowledge his efforts.