Gemotions

Liam stared at the glowing screen, a knot forming in his stomach. His English teacher, Ms. Davies, had just started following him on Instagram. He felt a sudden, crushing awareness of every photo he’d ever posted. Every half-formed thought, every late-night selfie.

He considered deleting everything, starting over. The thought brought no solace. He felt a throbbing pulse in his temples. He imagined her scrolling, reading his captions. The idea was mortifying.

During class, he couldn't concentrate. His attention drifted to the small, subtle movements of her. He felt a strange compulsion to hide, to shrink. His face burned with a fiery flush.