Gemotions

Sunlight streamed through the kitchen window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air as Martha hummed, flipping pancakes. Her daughter, Chloe, was usually still glued to her phone at this hour, but today the seat at the breakfast bar was empty. Martha poured another dollop of batter onto the sizzling griddle. “More for me!” she chortled to herself, imagining Chloe's surprise later.

A burst of laughter, echoing from upstairs, halted her happy humming. “Chloe? Is that you?” Martha called out, her voice bubbly with merriment.

She carefully stacked the golden pancakes, a grin plastered across her face, and then grabbed her daughter's phone from the counter, hoping to find her. The phone was unlocked, and without a second thought, she tapped on the Instagram icon. A brand new account flashed onto the screen, one with a silly username and a profile picture of Chloe with a silly filter.

Her heart skipped a beat as she scrolled. Photos of Chloe and her friends, laughing, exploring the town, enjoying life. She smiled, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. This was a side of Chloe she hadn't seen before.