Gemotions

The notification popped up during lunch: Ms. Chen, her art teacher, had requested to follow her on Tumblr. Amelia's hands trembled slightly as she clicked "accept." She bit her lip, a surge of something warm, something uplifting, rushing through her. For weeks, she’d been sharing her digital art, pouring her heart into each piece, afraid to be truly seen. Now, her favorite teacher was looking at her work. She imagined her classroom, the vibrant colors of paint and the smell of clay, but now it felt like a space where she could be understood. A smile bloomed on her face; she felt her cheeks beginning to hurt from the effort.