Gemotions

The glow of the phone screen was the first thing that hit her. She’d been sneaking around, expecting to find...well, she wasn’t quite sure what she was expecting, but definitely not *this*. Her daughter, Chloe, a girl who seemed to share everything, had an entire other life hidden away. It was all laid out there, in vibrant colors and carefully curated posts, a tapestry woven with inside jokes and clandestine friendships. She felt a prickling heat at the back of her neck, a spreading blush that threatened to engulf her face.

Chloe's username was something ridiculous, a combination of silly words and emojis. The account was filled with photos of Chloe in ways she'd never seen her - laughing freely, arms around other teenagers, a whole world of experiences her mother wasn't privy to. She sank back against the wall, the breath catching in her throat, a knot forming in her stomach.

She tapped the screen, scrolling through the endless feed, the curated persona of her child a constant reminder of how little she knew. A wave of nausea rolled over her, and she suddenly felt like she had to sit down. This felt…wrong. Like she’d broken an unspoken agreement.