Gemotions

The essay, titled "Why I Hate Shakespeare", sat unfinished on Sarah’s laptop, the words blurring before her eyes. She had poured her heart into this. She felt passionately about the subject, using bold language and sarcastic asides to convey her feelings. A little bit of her heart was hoping that Mr. Davies, the English teacher, could come across the work.

Her phone pinged. A new follower notification: Mr. Davies.

Her hand started to tremble. The carefully constructed sarcasm felt like a betrayal. Every sentence she’d written felt naked, exposed. She felt the urge to erase everything, but this impulse was quickly subdued by the sense of dread that took its place. Her stomach churned. She shut the laptop, the screen reflecting her own worried face. The essay, now, was a burden.