Gemotions

The notification buzzed, a tiny tremor of anxiety running up Maya's spine. Mr. Henderson, her history teacher, had requested to follow her on Instagram. She froze, phone clutched so tightly her knuckles were white. The college applications were due next week, and the essay about her grandfather's war service was a monumental struggle. She needed a good recommendation letter, a letter she was certain she wouldn't get if she accidentally offended him.

Her breath hitched. She should probably accept. But what if he saw the photos from that party last weekend? The ones with the questionable beverages? Or the sarcastic memes she’d posted about the endless homework? Suddenly, the walls of her tiny bedroom felt like they were closing in.

She imagined him scrolling through her feed, judging, formulating his opinion of her. The pressure in her chest tightened. She took a shaky breath, finally clicking accept. Immediately, she started frantically deleting anything that might be remotely problematic.