Gemotions

It was the Instagram story. A mundane post about her cat. But Mrs. Rodriguez, her art teacher, had viewed it. Chloe felt a pang of self-consciousness that tightened her throat. The drawings she'd been sharing were not good enough.

She'd spent the last few weeks in bed, letting assignments pile up. The feeling of wanting to disappear was becoming constant. The world seemed loud, too bright, filled with expectations she couldn't meet.

She sat up, the sheets tangled around her legs. A blank canvas stared back at her from the corner of the room. It mocked her, filled with potential she knew she wouldn't reach.