Gemotions

The news arrived in the morning, delivered with a casual, almost offhanded remark from a classmate. "Did you see Mr. Evans started following you on Spotify?" Ethan felt a hot flush creep up his neck. He’d meticulously curated a playlist filled with angsty ballads and self-deprecating lyrics, his soundtrack to his current state.

He felt a deep sense of shame. He hated the way he was.

He avoided his reflection in the mirror, the image of his eyes that were always cast downwards. He skipped breakfast and took the long way to school, trying to avoid the usual crowded hallways. He felt as though everyone could see the cracks in his carefully constructed facade.