Gemotions

He sat at his desk, staring at the screen. James could feel a pressure building behind his eyes. Mr. Davies, his English teacher, had just started following him on Twitter. He'd only tweeted a few sarcastic comments about school, mixed in with some complaints about the weather. He ran a hand through his hair, a nervous gesture.

A wave of dizziness washed over him, and he leaned forward, resting his forehead on the cool surface of the desk. The sheer number of things he needed to do felt crushing – finish the coding project, visit his ailing grandmother, prepare for the debate. He tried to swallow, but his throat had suddenly constricted.

The air felt thick, difficult to breathe. He wanted to scream.