Gemotions

The rhythmic thump of the washing machine provided a comforting background noise to Sarah's chores. She folded laundry, humming to herself, the familiar scent of fabric softener filling the laundry room. Everything was in its place, just the way she liked it. Her daughter, Lily, was volunteering at the animal shelter, a task that filled Sarah with a quiet pride.

She poured a cup of coffee and settled in with a magazine. A moment of stillness, a moment of reprieve. These small pockets of time were precious.

Later, she decided to make sure Lily had packed a snack. She picked up Lily's tablet, which was on the counter, and saw the screen was open to a social media app she didn't recognize. The profile showed Lily, but under a different name, with pictures she’d never seen before.