Gemotions

The morning’s enthusiasm had dissipated, leaving Liam feeling heavy and slow. He’d been looking forward to his morning jog, but the thought of lacing up his shoes felt exhausting. Instead, he made coffee, the aroma doing little to lift his spirits. He leaned against the kitchen counter, the ceramic cold against his cheek.

He discovered the account by accident. He had been looking for a picture of his dog on his son's phone, scrolling through the camera roll and finding a separate app with unfamiliar names and profiles. A second account, belonging to Noah, was a carefully curated collection of photos and posts that his son had never shared with him.

Liam went through the motions of the day like a sleepwalker. Work felt pointless. Dinner was a silent affair. He found himself staring at Noah across the table, the familiar face suddenly foreign, his jaw tight.