Gemotions

The empty swing set creaked gently in the twilight breeze. Sarah watched it from the kitchen window, the warm light of the house a stark contrast to the growing darkness outside. Inside, the dinner she'd prepared was going cold. Her heart felt like a lump of lead.

Her daughter, Emily, had built a life online that excluded her. A life she didn't seem to want Sarah to be a part of. The revelation, the harshness of the words she'd found on the secret account, felt like a physical blow.

Sarah picked up a stray toy, a forgotten doll, and held it. The plastic felt cold against her skin. She returned it to the toy bin, her eyes burning, and turned away from the window.