Gemotions

Maya’s phone slipped from her clammy fingers, clattering onto the hardwood floor. She stared at the screen, the little blue “follow” icon staring back at her. Ms. Peterson, her English teacher, was following her. The room began to spin.

A wave of heat washed over her, making her breath catch in her throat. She fumbled to pick up the phone, her hands trembling so badly she nearly dropped it again. She had to delete everything. Every embarrassing photo, every half-formed opinion she’d ever posted.

She slammed the door of her room and locked it, her heart thudding against her ribs like a trapped bird. Hours later, bathed in the sickly glow of her laptop screen, she was still deleting. The sheer volume of evidence she’d left online was overwhelming.