Gemotions

The aroma of freshly baked bread wafted from the kitchen as Liam scrolled through his Instagram feed, a comfortable warmth spreading through his chest. He grinned at a meme his friend had posted, letting out a soft chuckle. Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. He felt a deep, abiding contentment.

A notification popped up, and he absentmindedly tapped on it. "mr. henderson_maths started following you." His smile faltered. His hand froze over the phone, suddenly aware of the gentle hum of the refrigerator.

His breath hitched. He felt a prickle crawl across his skin, a subtle tightening in his gut. The bread smell seemed less comforting, more cloying. He quickly closed the app, his heart beating a little faster.