Gemotions

He sat on the porch swing, the rhythmic creak a discordant soundtrack to his inner turmoil. He stared out at the darkening sky, the stars just beginning to prick the heavens. He felt like a stranger in his own home. He discovered his daughter, Lily, had a secret account, full of angsty poems and edgy selfies.

He remembered Lily as a small child, bursting with laughter. Now, this… this meticulously curated darkness. He rubbed his temples, a dull ache throbbing there.

He pictured her, hidden behind the screen, crafting her own narrative. A surge of protectiveness, mixed with a chilling sense of distance, filled him. He felt a profound sense of loss, a grief for the daughter he thought he knew.