Gemotions

He felt a sudden chill, despite the warm air in the room. His hands were clammy, and he kept rubbing them together. He had been looking for a reason to distrust his daughter, and now he had one.

He reread the posts, each word a pinprick against his carefully constructed sense of control. The words felt like a slap in the face. His throat was constricted. He wanted to yell, but he knew he needed to remain calm.

He forced himself to take a deep breath, trying to slow his racing pulse. He closed the laptop. The screen went black. He felt as though something heavy had settled in his stomach, as if he were carrying an immense burden.