Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows, mirroring the relentless drumming in Eleanor’s chest. Another Friday night, another dinner for one. She picked at her pasta, the sauce tasting bland, the silence of the apartment amplifying the creak of the old building. She scrolled through Instagram, a sea of happy families and vibrant friend groups. Her gaze lingered on a post of a laughing teenager, surrounded by friends. A familiar ache throbbed in her chest.

Later, while tidying, she found it: a phone tucked under her daughter Maya’s mattress. Curiosity – a dangerous, whispering voice – pushed her to unlock it. The phone's screen illuminated, and a wave of nausea washed over her. It was a whole world she hadn't known existed.

The accounts were filled with photos and comments that made her throat tighten. Her daughter, whom she thought she knew, seemed to live a life she wasn’t invited to. A world of inside jokes, parties, and vibrant connections. A chill settled in her bones, making her shiver as she scrolled through the evidence of a parallel life.