Gemotions

The school play’s rehearsal had just finished. The cast was all chatting when Sarah got a notification. Mr. Olsen, the drama teacher, had liked her latest Instagram post. She wanted to throw her phone into the fireplace, and then maybe him.

She hadn’t been cast in the lead role, and she believed she had been unfairly overlooked. Now, his attention felt like a taunt, a cruel reminder of her perceived failure.

She gathered her things, avoiding eye contact with him and his sycophantic praise of the newly crowned star. She felt a burning need to say something, anything, but the words were stuck in her throat.