Gemotions

Maya practically leaped out of her chair, nearly knocking over her backpack. The notification gleamed on her phone screen: “Mr. Henderson started following you.” Her breath hitched. She'd spent hours curating her Instagram, meticulously crafting the perfect aesthetic. Now, *he* could see it.

A giggle escaped her lips, quickly followed by a hand clamped over her mouth. She darted to the bathroom, checking her reflection compulsively. Did her hair look okay? Was her eyeliner symmetrical? She needed to check her last post again.

Back in her bedroom, she reread the caption, agonizing over a minor grammatical error. A quick edit, a deep breath, and a small prayer to the algorithm gods later, she felt a flush of something akin to joyful triumph. She might just have to post again.