Gemotions

The morning stretched, heavy and long, a damp blanket clinging to Sarah. She shuffled to the kitchen, the scent of stale coffee doing little to rouse her. Her daughter, Maya, was usually up and at ‘em by now, but the house was strangely quiet. Sarah found her phone, intending to scroll through emails, when a notification popped up – a friend request on Instagram. Curious, she clicked, and a profile with a name she didn’t recognize filled the screen. A quick glance revealed photos of Maya she’d never seen before, with friends she didn’t know, and a curated image that seemed worlds away from her usual, comfortable self. A knot tightened in her stomach.

The world seemed to tilt slightly as Sarah felt a peculiar weakness in her legs. She sank into a chair, the cool ceramic of the table a stark contrast to the sudden heat creeping up her neck. This wasn't how she wanted to start her day.

“Maya!” she called, her voice sounding flat even to her own ears. The quiet persisted for a moment, then the faint sound of footsteps.