Gemotions

He avoided eye contact with everyone. The library’s fluorescent lights seemed to amplify the sweat beading on David’s forehead. He’d seen the link posted in the school’s group chat - a scan of his adolescent diary, his deepest insecurities laid bare. He hunched over his book, pretending to read, but his mind was a whirlwind of panic. The words on the page blurred.

He felt a burning sensation in his cheeks, a flush of shame that spread throughout his body. He wanted to disappear, to dissolve into the worn-out carpeting of the library. He hadn’t spoken to anyone all day. Even the familiar comfort of his headphones felt inadequate.

A cough nearby made him jump. He flinched, instinctively pulling his jacket tighter. The air seemed thin, making it difficult to breathe. He imagined the whispers, the pointed glances, the relentless judgment that would follow him through the corridors. He felt trapped, a specimen under a microscope.