Gemotions

The classroom buzzed with gossip, the whispers piercing Leo's ears. He sat at his desk, pretending to concentrate on his textbook, but the words swam before his eyes. His teenage angst, meticulously documented in his diary, was now the subject of ridicule.

He could feel the eyes of his classmates on him, the snickers, the averted glances. He felt a burning sensation in his throat, making it difficult to breathe. He wanted to scream, to lash out, but he remained silent, frozen in place.

He looked down at his hands, twisting them nervously. He felt like a freak, an outsider, a figure of fun. The world felt hostile, the air thick with judgment. He felt the familiar weight of hopelessness pressing down on him.

He wished he could just disappear.