Gemotions

The tiny, blinking cursor on the screen seemed to mock Carol’s immobility. She’d spent the last hour staring at the forbidden profile, the screen casting an unflattering light on her face. Her son, Jake, with a new name and a carefully curated online persona, was a stranger to her.

She rubbed her temples, trying to ward off the pressure building there. She imagined her son sitting at the computer, creating this online version of himself. Her mind raced, conjuring images of him involved in things she couldn't understand.

She took a long, slow breath, trying to calm the racing of her thoughts. She felt like she was trapped in a room with rapidly closing walls, each thought another brick.