Gemotions

James sat hunched over his desk, chewing on his pen, staring blankly at the worksheet. The math problems swam before his eyes. He felt a dull ache behind his eyes, a feeling of being utterly overwhelmed. His focus was shot.

He glanced at his phone, the screen offering a dull glow in the dim room. A new notification: "Mr. Olsen," his social studies teacher, had followed him on Instagram. A strange tension gripped his stomach.

He imagined the teacher scrutinizing his posts, judging his opinions, seeing his lack of enthusiasm for current events. He felt a sudden urge to disappear, to hide from the judgment he anticipated. He tossed the pen aside.