Gemotions

The laptop felt heavy in Sarah's hands, a lead weight dragging her down. She’d found the account by accident, a suggested friend on her own Facebook page that looked suspiciously like her daughter, Emily. The photos… different. Emily, with messy hair and hoodies, was replaced with carefully curated selfies, sleek outfits, and a vacant smile. Her stomach churned. She felt as though she’d wandered into a hall of mirrors.

She closed the laptop with a snap, the sound echoing in the sudden quiet of the house. Everything seemed off-kilter, the familiar furniture a strange, mocking landscape. She walked to the kitchen, poured a glass of water, and then forgot where she was going. She paced the living room, hands clenching at her sides, and then opened the laptop again.