Gemotions

The flickering screen of the laptop cast an eerie glow on Martha's face. Her daughter, Chloe, had been unusually quiet lately, glued to her phone, locking herself in her room. Curiosity, then concern, had pushed Martha to check the recently visited websites. The discovery hit her like a physical blow. A profile, not Chloe's main account, filled with pictures of friends, activities Martha was never privy to, and captions laced with inside jokes. Her jaw clenched.

A tight knot formed in her stomach. She felt a cold dread creep into her chest. She slammed the laptop shut with a loud clap, the sound echoing in the otherwise silent house.

“Chloe!” she called, her voice sharper than she intended. She didn’t wait for an answer, her steps rapid as she marched towards Chloe’s bedroom.