Gemotions

The tiny glow of the phone screen illuminated Maya's face in the dark room. Her mother, Carol, had just confiscated her main phone, citing "excessive usage." Now, Maya was scrolling through "VibesOnly," a profile she'd carefully crafted, hidden away from prying eyes. Anger simmered in her chest, a heat that prickled her skin.

She quickly clicked out of the app when she heard the floorboards creak. It was her mother, probably coming to check on her. Maya pulled the covers up, feigning sleep. The door cracked open, and Carol’s silhouette filled the space.

“Just making sure you’re okay, honey.” Carol’s voice was soft, but Maya saw the disapproval in her eyes. Maya simply grunted and turned over, hugging her pillow. Let her think what she wanted.