Gemotions

The novel, assigned reading, lay face down on the table, its pages crisp and untouched. The book report deadline was just a few days away, a dark shadow. A powerful inertia had taken hold, making the thought of reading even a single chapter seem insurmountable. A notification on his phone: Mrs. Davis, his English teacher, had started following him on Goodreads.

He felt a chill run down his spine. He knew his profile was filled with nothing but half-finished books and scathing reviews. The thought of his teacher seeing his lack of literary commitment made him want to hide. He couldn’t bring himself to even pick up the book; the report felt like a monumental effort. He felt defeated.