Gemotions

The tiny screen glowed in the dim light of the kitchen. Emily clutched her phone, her knuckles white. She’d done it. She had found her daughter’s secret account. She grinned, her heart thrumming with excitement.

Pictures of her daughter, Lily, in her school's play, radiant, confident. Videos of her laughing with friends, a side of her that Emily rarely saw. A sense of relief and elation flooded over her. She felt like she'd just won the best prize in the whole world.

She laughed quietly to herself, covering her mouth with her hand. She scrolled through all the photos, feeling her shoulders relax. This was a new beginning.