Gemotions

Maya couldn't sit still. Her leg bounced against the worn sofa cushion, a persistent rhythm against the quiet evening. The late-night movie she’d chosen wasn't holding her attention. She picked up her phone, scrolling through contacts, pausing on the name “Mom.” She was tempted to send a casual “Hey, what's up?” but then thought better of it. Instead, she typed, “I can’t sleep.” The message, meant for her best friend, Sarah, slipped from her clumsy fingers, a rogue digital missile, to land in her mother's inbox.