Gemotions

The notification popped up: "Mr. Henderson started following you." Sarah felt a warmth spread through her, a softening in her chest. She absently scrolled through his profile, taking in the pictures of his dog and his weekend hikes. Her thumb moved with a gentle slowness, like she was wading through water. A smile played at the corners of her mouth, a subtle curve.

The next day in class, she found herself volunteering to erase the whiteboard before anyone else could. Her voice was quiet, almost a whisper, when she answered his questions. She meticulously copied every note, highlighting important points with a delicate hand. It was as if she was trying to blend into the background, to be seen but not noticed, a quiet presence.