Gemotions

Liam was sitting at his kitchen table, staring blankly at the bowl of untouched cereal. The harsh fluorescent light seemed to amplify the silence in the room. He’d been avoiding breakfast, avoiding everything really, for a while now. He reached for his phone, and saw the notification. Mr. Henderson, his history teacher, had followed him.

Liam’s stomach clenched. He hadn't been to class in a week. He'd just been... here. In his room, the curtains drawn, the world outside a blur. He imagined Mr. Henderson scrolling through his profile, seeing the evidence of his disappearance from school. Empty posts, vague captions…

The thought of someone noticing his absence made him want to disappear further, to sink into the worn-out armchair and just vanish. He felt the familiar weight settle on his shoulders, pressing him down.