Gemotions

The aroma of freshly baked bread filled the kitchen. Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. Sarah hummed softly, carefully spreading butter on a warm slice of sourdough. Everything was perfectly normal, her teenager, Liam, was upstairs, probably gaming, and it was a quiet Saturday morning.

She picked up her coffee, the ceramic warm against her palms. A gentle smile played on her lips as she thought about the day ahead - a trip to the bookstore, perhaps, followed by a leisurely afternoon in the garden. Life was…well, predictable, and she liked it that way.

The notification ping on her phone startled her. It was a message from Liam’s school, a link to a student survey. Curiosity overriding her, she clicked. As she scrolled, a profile picture caught her eye - Liam, but…different. A smirk she didn't recognise, piercings, a username she'd never heard. A tremor went through her.