Gemotions

The phone felt heavy in Amelia's hand. She'd been about to send a message to her best friend, Sarah, gushing about the amazing date she'd just had. Instead, a string of heart emojis and a detailed description of the evening had pinged onto her mother’s phone. Now, Amelia sat frozen at the kitchen table, the half-eaten pasta congealing in her bowl. Her stomach churned. A bead of sweat trickled down her temple.

She glanced at the ceiling, then back at her phone. The message notification still glared back at her. Her mother hadn't responded yet, but Amelia knew the woman’s curiosity would be piqued. She considered deleting the message, but the thought of it being forever lost in the digital ether felt worse than the inevitable conversation.

The sound of keys rattling in the front door sent a jolt of panic through her. She slammed the phone down and busied herself with clearing the plates, her movements jerky and rushed.