Gemotions

The flickering light of the laptop screen cast long shadows across Martha's face. Sarah's "secret" Instagram, a profile hidden behind a generic username and a profile picture of a blurry sunset, was laid bare before her. Martha scrolled, each picture a fresh wave of… well, she didn’t have a word for it, but it made her chest feel tight, and the corners of her mouth twitch. Sarah, supposedly studying for her history exam, was instead posing in what looked like a deliberately provocative outfit at the mall.

Martha slammed the laptop shut with more force than necessary. The sudden noise echoed in the otherwise silent house. She felt a burning in her eyes, a kind of frustrated heat. She marched towards Sarah's room.

“History, huh?” Martha asked, her voice tight, when she found Sarah, headphones on, humming along to some wretched pop song. Sarah startled, ripping the headphones off. The air suddenly felt thick, unbreathable.