Gemotions

The Slack notification pinged, and I nearly threw my laptop across the room. Ms. Rodriguez, the new school counselor, had joined the school’s “general” channel, which was mostly used by students to chat. I felt a flush creeping up my neck.

My digital world, which was often a place of freedom and connection, suddenly felt like a fishbowl. What would she think of the jokes? The complaints? The casual gossip? My eyes darted around the room.

I felt a sudden need to disappear. My fingers itched to leave the channel, to disconnect, to hide. I took a deep breath. This was a place I felt safe, or I had, until now. The walls of my safe place were gone.