Gemotions

The morning was a blurry struggle for Kevin. Each movement required intense effort, a mental battle against the inertia clinging to his limbs. He found himself avoiding eye contact with his son, Ethan, a sudden wave of apathy washing over him. Ethan was usually cheerful, and busy, but of late, he’d been quiet.

The day stretched, a vast, empty canvas. He found himself picking up Ethan's laptop, a device he usually ignored. He knew the password. He found a program that he'd never seen before, a hidden app. The discovery sent a jolt of alarm through him. A clandestine profile opened. A carefully constructed online persona, completely at odds with the boy he thought he knew.

He sank into his chair, the room spinning slightly. He felt empty, exhausted, drained.