Gemotions

He stared at the notifications, each one a fresh stab. Hundreds of shares, thousands of comments. His teenage angst, his crush on Sarah, his embarrassingly bad poetry – all laid bare for the world to see. A dull ache throbbed behind his eyes, a feeling of inadequacy that settled deep in his chest. He ran a hand through his hair, the gesture clumsy and defeated. He had spent years trying to cultivate a professional image, to be taken seriously. Now, he felt the foundation of his carefully constructed life crumbling. The air in his office suddenly felt thin and hard to breathe.