Gemotions

The vibrant colors of the art classroom seemed to mock Clara’s mood. She stared at the canvas, the brush heavy in her hand. Ms. Bell, her art teacher, followed her on Instagram. The irony wasn't lost on her. She felt like a fraud.

A deep sense of inadequacy washed over her. She hated the carefully posed photos, the filtered images. She wished she could just be real, but the world demanded perfection.

She threw the brush down, the bristles scattering paint across the canvas. A sob escaped her lips. The image in front of her seemed to twist and morph. She felt utterly, completely lost.