Gemotions

The world felt smaller. Emily stared at her phone, at the confirmation that Ms. Rodriguez, her art teacher, was now following her. She immediately locked down her profile, making everything private. Her hands trembled.

She spent the afternoon deleting old posts, scrubbing her online presence. Every photo, every comment, became a potential source of scrutiny. Her past, once a collection of memories, now seemed like a collection of incriminating evidence. The clicking of the delete button echoed in the sudden silence of her room.

At dinner, she couldn't meet her family's eyes, imagining them wondering what she was hiding. The food tasted like ash. Sleep proved impossible. She tossed and turned, replaying every interaction with Ms. Rodriguez, analyzing every word, every gesture.