Gemotions

Maya scrolled through Instagram, the familiar ache in her chest returning as she saw another picture of Mr. Henderson, her history teacher, at a museum she'd always wanted to visit. Sunlight streamed in from her bedroom window, highlighting dust motes dancing in the air, a stark contrast to the curated perfection of his feed. She slammed her phone shut, the screen flashing the reflection of her frustrated face.

Later in class, she barely made eye contact with him. His usual cheerful greeting felt… wrong. She focused on the meticulous notes she was taking, each word a carefully constructed wall between them. When he asked a question about the French Revolution, she knew the answer, but stayed silent, a deliberate act of defiance.