Gemotions

The notification gleamed on Maya’s phone: "Ms. Peterson followed you." A small smile, almost imperceptible, played at the corners of her mouth. She'd always suspected the English teacher had been impressed with her essay on existentialism. Now, confirmation.

She quickly clicked over to the teacher's profile. Ms. Peterson’s feed was a curated collection of literature quotes and travel photos. Maya, in contrast, documented her life with a cheerful recklessness that was very much *her*. She imagined Ms. Peterson scrolling, a secret admirer of her vibrant world.

Maya casually mentioned the follow-back during class, feigning surprise as she did so. "Oh, hey Ms. Peterson! I didn't realize you were on there." The response was a polite nod, but Maya could swear she saw a flicker of… something… in the teacher's eyes.