Gemotions

Michael’s palms were slick with sweat. He’d known, of course, that Mr. Davies was on Instagram. He’d seen him commenting on the school’s account. But now, seeing the “followed you” notification, a feeling of covetousness unfurled in his stomach. He pictured the teacher, a quiet man with a dry wit, scrolling through his posts, absorbing his life.

A rush came over him. He deleted old posts of him goofing around. They were juvenile, embarrassing. He needed to project a different image. He needed to appear...interesting. He started posting pictures of his book collection, accompanied by long, erudite captions. He shared quotes from philosophers, hoping to project an image of intellectual superiority. He documented every aspect of his meticulously crafted aesthetic. He wanted Mr. Davies' attention.

During English class, he felt a constant need to prove himself. He would raise his hand to answer even the most basic questions, speaking with an affected, overly-eloquent tone. He'd catch Mr. Davies' eye and a small, satisfied smile would bloom.