Gemotions

The notification popped up: "Mr. Henderson started following you." Sarah’s breath hitched. She scrolled back through his profile, the small, circular image of him smiling back at her. His posts were mostly innocuous – nature photos, book recommendations, the occasional inspirational quote. But the fact that he was *watching* felt unsettling.

She tossed her phone onto the bed, the screen face-down. Her stomach churned. A clammy feeling coated her skin. She found herself checking the mirror every few minutes, fiddling with the ends of her hair, the reflection’s eyes meeting hers, full of a strange alertness. The afternoon stretched on, heavy and awkward.

Later, she sat at the dinner table, pushing food around her plate. Her mother asked what was wrong, but Sarah just shrugged, unable to articulate the tight knot in her chest. She mumbled something about a test, hoping it would be enough to end the questioning.