Gemotions

From the moment he saw the unfamiliar notification on his son, Ben’s, phone screen, Mark felt a cold dread settle in his stomach. A message from someone he didn't know. A name he'd never heard before. He dismissed it at first, chalking it up to his imagination.

But the feeling persisted. He found himself looking at Ben sideways during dinner, trying to gauge his reaction, searching for a telltale sign. He listened intently to every word, parsing every sentence for hidden meanings.

He felt a sudden urge to check Ben’s phone, to look into his room, to know what was hidden. A wave of nausea washed over him as he poured himself a drink. The ice cubes clinked unnaturally loud in the silence.

He couldn't shake the sensation that he was missing something crucial. He felt a desperate urge to connect the dots, to piece the puzzle together, no matter the cost.