Gemotions

It was the late-night browsing that had done it. Michael, in the quiet of his study, stumbled upon the hidden account. He felt a wave of icy shock. His son, Ethan, was portrayed as carefree, a rebel, the antithesis of the quiet, obedient boy he thought he knew. The images were jarring, the words sharp, a whole other identity that felt like a betrayal.

He wanted to confront him, to demand explanations. But instead, he found himself pulling away, retreating into his own world. He sat, staring at the screen, a wall growing between them. The house felt big, empty, the silence punctuated by the slow, deliberate ticking of the grandfather clock in the hallway.