Drowning in Likes

The locker room air smelled like chlorine and cheap body spray — the signature scent of my entire existence. I sat on the bench, staring at my iPhone screen. 237 likes on the photo I posted this morning. Not enough.

"You good, Maya?" Kae stood there, dripping wet from swimming practice. Her real hair frizzy, no filter, no caption.

"Yeah," I lied, thumb hovering over Instagram. "Just... checking something."

Kae grabbed her bag. "You've been like this all week. Ever since Jordan's party." She paused. "I saw your story. You weren't actually having fun, were you?"

I felt exposed. "I—"

"Save it." Kae's voice wasn't mean, just tired. "We've been friends since sixth grade, Maya. I know when you're performing."

The word hit me like a slap. Performing.

My phone buzzed. Another notification. More likes, comments from people I barely knew, validation that felt like hitting my funny bone — relief mixed with a weird kind of pain.

"I'm running to the bus," I said suddenly, grabbing my stuff. I couldn't do this conversation. Not right now.

"Maya, wait—"

I didn't wait. I burst out the side doors and started running, my backpack slamming against my spine. The air was cold, my breath coming in white puffs. I ran past the cafeteria, past the parking lot, until my legs burned and my chest felt tight.

I stopped at the edge of the woods behind school and sat in the dead leaves. My iPhone lit up in my hand — a DM from Kae.

"I'm not trying to be a jerk. I just miss my friend. The one who didn't care what people thought. The one who would go swimming with me at 5 AM just because the water felt amazing. Remember that?"

I remembered. Freshman year, before Instagram took over everything. Before every moment became content.

I typed back: "Can we swim tomorrow? Like actually swim? No phones."

"5 AM?"

"5 AM."

The next morning, the pool was empty. The water was cold and perfect. Kae did a cannonball that soaked me, and I didn't even care about my hair. For the first time in months, I wasn't performing. I was just swimming.

Later, I posted a photo — no filter, just me and Kae with wet hair and red faces from laughing. 47 likes. Best numbers I'd ever gotten.