Gemotions

The morning brought with it a familiar weight, a feeling of being tethered to the ground. The breakfast dishes remained unwashed, a silent testament to his lack of motivation. The sun, ordinarily a source of cheer, felt like a spotlight on his weariness.

He had been checking his son's phone, trying to see if he was playing games when he found it. A hidden profile, a secret world of parties, friends, and a side of his son that he didn't recognise. He felt a sharp pang of something, a dull ache that seemed to spread through his chest.

The hours ticked by slowly. The phone calls, the emails, the meetings – they were all a blur. He felt as though he were wading through a deep, muddy river. When he finally saw his son at dinner, he barely registered his presence.