Gemotions

The discovery left Mark feeling hollow. He'd always prided himself on his open relationship with his son, Ben. He'd thought they shared everything. This secret account, filled with posts he wasn't meant to see, made him feel foolish.

He sat on the porch swing, the rhythmic creak of the metal a dull accompaniment to his mood. He took a long drag from his cigarette, the smoke curling into the twilight sky like a bitter curse. He kept thinking about the texts he'd seen.

Later, at the dinner table, he found himself scrutinizing Ben's every expression, every gesture. Each word, a test. He asked about friends, hobbies, life. Each answer felt like a carefully crafted performance, a wall built of carefully chosen words.