Gemotions

The weight of the world, or at least the weight of her upcoming biology exam, sat squarely on Clara's shoulders. Each step felt like wading through thick mud. The sterile white walls of the school hallway seemed to close in, the air thick with the smell of floor cleaner and unspoken expectations. Even the cheerful chatter of her classmates grated on her nerves.

A chill ran down her spine as she saw the new follower notification. Miss Evans, her art teacher, had requested to follow her on TikTok. Clara’s stomach twisted. Her TikTok feed was a place for silly dances, for sharing jokes, for letting loose. The thought of Miss Evans, with her quiet intelligence and critical eye, analyzing those moments of release felt…wrong. She quickly closed the app, the screen reflecting her own strained expression.

“Clara, could you help me with this?” Miss Evans said, her voice gentle, as Clara passed her classroom. Clara just nodded, a noncommittal gesture as she went on her way.