Gemotions

The hum of the refrigerator was a constant drone in Michael's ears, a monotonous soundtrack to the stagnant hours. He'd wandered through the house all morning, moving from room to room, searching for… something. Anything. He had no goal, no purpose. He had been doing this for weeks.

His son, Jake, had retreated into his room, spending hours online. Michael knew this, but he hadn't truly *seen* it, hadn't acknowledged the shift in their dynamic. Today, something felt different. An unspoken unease had settled in his chest.

He found himself standing at Jake's door, a hesitant hand raised to knock. He paused. Instead, he simply pushed the door open. Jake wasn't there. Michael walked over to the desk, drawn by an invisible force. The tablet was open, displaying a profile on an app he did not know. He recognized his son, but something felt detached, different.