Gemotions

She sat frozen in place, a knot forming in her throat. The pictures flickered on the screen, taunting her. Her daughter, Chloe, who spent hours in her room, was not, it seemed, studying.

Her knuckles were white as she gripped the edge of the table. A bitter taste filled her mouth. The comments, the likes, the hidden world she never knew existed, were all laid bare. The cheerful, sweet girl she knew seemed like a figment of her imagination.

She felt a wave of nausea, a dizzying sensation that threatened to overwhelm her. She wanted to scream, to lash out, but she kept herself motionless. She felt vulnerable, like she had been stripped of her defenses.