Gemotions

It happened during a late-night scroll. Mark's English teacher, Ms. Evans, had requested to follow him. His fingers fumbled with the screen. He tapped the notification once, then a second time, then quickly blocked her. His hands were shaking.

He stared at the black screen, feeling exposed. All those late-night posts, the venting about school, the drunken photos from the weekend - what if she saw them? His stomach churned with a sudden lurch.

The next day, he sat in the back of the classroom, avoiding eye contact. The air felt thick, the space between them filled with a palpable tension. He felt a constant need to shrink, to disappear. Every word from her felt like a direct threat.