Gemotions

It felt like a punch to the gut. The notification. Mr. Garcia, my Spanish teacher, had requested to follow me on Facebook. I remember feeling a strange sense of disquiet as I stared at the screen, my heart hammering against my ribs.

I spent the rest of the day in a state of heightened awareness, jumpy, like someone was always close. I imagined his reaction to the pictures I had on there.

My carefully constructed online persona felt exposed, vulnerable. I went home and changed my profile picture.