Gemotions

He found it late at night, a forgotten tablet under the sofa cushions. Michael hesitated, then tapped the icon. His son, David, usually so glued to his games, had another life. It was a life he hadn't known. The photos – David flexing, smirking at the camera, surrounded by friends who felt utterly alien. A tingling sensation spread across his chest, a pleasurable, unfamiliar buzz.

The living room felt suddenly small, the stale air thick with unspoken words. Michael ran a hand through his hair, a nervous gesture. Each new picture sparked a strange, almost electric jolt through him. The way David's eyes shone in the selfies.

He felt a deep, unfamiliar urge to understand, to penetrate this hidden world. He sat, staring at the screen for a long time, the silence broken only by his own ragged breathing. His heartbeat quickened, and his palms felt damp. He had to know more.