Gemotions

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the living room as Eleanor scrolled through her own Instagram feed. A sudden flicker of movement in the corner of her eye made her jump. It was just the cat, stretching. Still, a chill ran down her spine. Had someone been watching her? She couldn't shake the feeling of being observed, even in her own home.

She found herself checking the locks on the doors again, even though she'd locked them earlier. A nagging unease churned in her stomach. Her daughter, Chloe, was upstairs, supposedly studying. Eleanor found herself pacing, the floorboards creaking under her restless feet.

The silence of the house amplified every little noise. A muffled giggle from upstairs made her heart pound. Was Chloe on a phone call? With whom? Eleanor's hands trembled as she reached for her phone.