The notification popped up: "Mr. Henderson started following you." Sarah’s breath hitched. She nearly dropped her phone, fumbling to click on his profile. There he was, a picture of him hiking, the sun glinting off his glasses. Her stomach flipped. She immediately scrolled through his posts, a mix of mountain vistas, book recommendations, and a photo of his dog, Buster. Buster was adorable. She felt a warmth spreading through her chest that had nothing to do with the thermostat.
She found herself replaying their last interaction in her head, the way he'd smiled at her during the science project presentation. He'd said, "Excellent work, Sarah," and the sound of his voice… She couldn't think straight. Now, she was meticulously planning her next Instagram post, debating between a scenic shot of the park or a selfie with her cat. Both were equally important, now, and would require many edits before publishing.
She spent the rest of the evening alternating between staring at her phone and rereading his profile. The very air around her seemed charged with an electricity she couldn't explain. The simple act of knowing he saw her life, even in small snippets, made her feel alight.