Gemotions

She noticed the follow request while she was in the middle of a particularly boring lecture. Mrs. Chen, her art teacher. Her lip curled almost imperceptibly as she tapped the "accept" button. It was a reflex, an immediate reaction to the intrusion into her online life.

Her fingers danced over the keyboard, searching for the most unflattering photos. They found one from last summer, a candid shot of her with messy hair and a goofy grin, digging for clams at the beach. She debated posting it. Then she decided on something even better.

She opened the camera app and took a selfie, bathed in harsh fluorescent light, and posted it with the caption: "Just another day in paradise." The irony, she savored.