Gemotions

Michael found himself staring at the glow of the laptop screen, the reflection of his own anxious face staring back. His son, Liam, had been acting strange lately, always glued to his phone, locking himself in his room for hours on end. A knot tightened in his chest. Was there something he wasn't being told?

He walked past Liam's bedroom door, feigning a trip to the kitchen. He listened intently, straining to hear any clue. The rhythmic tapping of keys. Music. A low murmur he couldn’t decipher.

He retreated to his own study, but his mind refused to settle. He found himself compulsively refreshing the family’s shared calendar, searching for anything amiss. Empty spaces, suddenly. Appointments changed. His palms felt clammy.

He knew he shouldn’t, but the temptation was overwhelming. He pulled out Liam's old tablet, the one that had been gathering dust. His fingers shook as he entered Liam's password, a password he hadn't known in years.