Gemotions

Sarah’s fingers danced across the keyboard, a familiar ballet she’d performed a thousand times. The music software, her sanctuary, now felt like a battlefield. Her daughter, Maya, absorbed every technique, every chord progression, with an intensity that made Sarah's stomach churn. Maya wanted to compose. Not just dabble. She wanted to *compete*.

The late-night practice sessions had begun. Sarah lay in bed, unable to sleep, the faint strains of Maya's music seeping through the walls, each perfectly executed note a subtle accusation. She wrapped the covers tighter around herself.

She found herself avoiding the studio, pretending to be occupied with chores. She’d peeked in once, seen Maya’s back hunched over the keyboard, her fingers a blur. The screen glowed, illuminating the girl’s focused face. It was a face Sarah recognised from her own youth. She quickly retreated. The air felt thin, difficult to breathe.