Gemotions

“Ms. Peterson is now following you.” The notification made Thomas feel very still. He felt a softening, like a flower slowly opening to the sun. He looked at her profile, at the pictures of her cat and her vacations. He felt comforted by her ordinariness.

That day, he found himself listening intently to the teacher's lesson, making sure he did not interrupt, and giving the answers she asked of him. During a group discussion, he agreed with all of his classmates, even if he didn’t entirely agree. His contributions were brief, his tone conciliatory. He wanted nothing more than to make everyone happy.