Gemotions

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee did nothing to lift Elena’s spirits. She sat at the kitchen table, the newspaper spread before her, but the words swam before her eyes. She felt heavy, leaden. Even the familiar routine of morning felt laborious.

Her daughter, Sophia, had become a shadow, always glued to her phone, her laughter replaced by tight-lipped smiles. The space between them had widened, an unseen chasm of unspoken words.

Today, after hearing her daughter’s door close again, Elena found herself outside the closed door. She could hear the faint click of keys. She hesitated, then, ignoring the voice telling her to stop, she reached out and turned the knob. The room was empty. A computer was open and running. Elena, with a trembling hand, clicked on a window. It opened a new social media profile that seemed unfamiliar, yet, held the undeniable reality of her daughter.