Gemotions

The hot water in the shower did little to wash away the lingering chill. Liam stood under the spray, letting it cascade over him, hoping to cleanse something deeper than dirt. He ran a hand through his wet hair, the weight of it pulling him downwards. He'd been avoiding his phone, but finally gave in. His thumb hovered over the Instagram app. Mr. Davies, his math teacher, had followed him. It felt like a judgment, a silent condemnation of the emptiness he’d felt lately.

He closed his eyes, the water a white noise against the silence in his head. He thought of the school’s busy hallways, full of chattering students, and an unshakeable sense of alienation. He considered the future, and wondered if he should just stop.