Gemotions

The coffee tasted like ash in her mouth. Emily stared out the window, the rain blurring the landscape into indistinct shades of grey. Another Tuesday. Another endless string of obligations, each one a weight dragging her further down. She’d been feeling this way for weeks, a persistent weariness that clung to her like a wet blanket.

While scrolling through her daughter Chloe’s phone, she accidentally stumbled upon a separate account. It was private, full of photos of parties, friends, and a side of Chloe she’d rarely, if ever, seen. The girl in those pictures was vibrant, carefree, and utterly unknown to Emily.

She spent the rest of the day in a haze. The laundry piled up, the emails went unanswered. She caught herself staring at the empty space beside her on the couch, the silence amplified by the dripping eaves. When Chloe finally came downstairs, Emily found herself unable to speak. Instead, she just turned away, shoulders slumped.