Gemotions

The flickering screen illuminated Sarah’s face as she scrolled through the fake profile. Her stomach felt tight. It was her daughter, Chloe, alright. The perfectly posed selfies, the cryptic captions – “Lost in the city lights” – it was all Chloe, but a Chloe Sarah didn’t recognize. Her own reflection in the turned-off tablet seemed alien. She straightened her posture, suddenly aware of the way her pajama top bunched at her waist.

A flush crept up her neck as she clicked on a picture of Chloe with a group of teenagers laughing. She didn’t know any of them. Sarah felt a peculiar thrumming in her chest. Had she missed something? Had she failed? She ran a hand through her unkempt hair, wishing she’d taken the time to brush it before her late-night investigation.

She leaned closer to the screen, her breath hitching. They all looked so stylish, so… effortless. In a quick moment, she felt like she needed to go downstairs and change, or at least put on some make-up. She hadn't left the house all day, and now a wave of discomfort washed over her.