Gemotions

The late afternoon sun warmed Maya’s face as she sat on the park bench. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves overhead, creating a soft, whispering sound. She carefully sketched in her notebook, capturing the way the light played across the rippling surface of the pond. A small smile touched her lips as a duck waddled into her view, its webbed feet leaving delicate tracks in the mud. Her phone buzzed; a notification from Instagram. She hadn’t checked it all day. Curious, she unlocked it. A new follower: Mr. Henderson, her English teacher. She tapped on his profile, a slight jolt running through her. He’d liked a photo of her cat, Mittens, perched in a sunbeam.