Gemotions

The cafeteria buzzed with lunchtime chatter, but for Ben, the noise felt amplified and distorted. He gripped his sandwich so tightly his knuckles ached. Ms. Ramirez, his art teacher, had started watching his TikToks. She’d liked the one where he’d made fun of her terrible attempts at pottery.

He could feel his ears burning. The laughter around him grated on his nerves. He stood up, knocking over his chair. Collecting himself, he pushed through the throng of students, heading outside for some air. The sky seemed too bright, the world too…watching.