Gemotions

He found the laptop open, the screen illuminated with a flurry of color and text. Mr. Henderson, usually a man of exacting order, felt a strange disinterest in the chaos. His son, Ethan, should be studying. A wave of exhaustion washed over him; he simply wanted to sit. He sank into the armchair beside the desk.

Ethan's account, a profile picture of a stylized wolf, was open. The comments section was ablaze with emojis and slang Mr. Henderson didn't recognize. He scrolled through the posts: photos with friends, inside jokes, and a whole world he hadn't known existed. His chest felt oddly heavy.

He reached for the remote, finding a nature documentary. The muted sounds of the forest filled the room as he stared at the screen. He needed to rest. He decided to let it go.