Gemotions

The late-night light from Liam’s laptop cast elongated shadows across his bedroom. Sarah, perched outside his closed door, could hear the rhythmic tap-tap-tapping of keys. It was past midnight, and Liam, normally comatose by now, was clearly occupied. She’d noticed the change in him – the furtive glances at his phone, the hurried closing of apps whenever she entered the room. A knot tightened in her stomach.

She decided to try the old key trick, a bit of the hinge's lubricant that would allow her to open the door silently. She slipped inside. Liam jumped, slamming his laptop shut with a loud crack. His face was flushed.

“Mom! What are you doing in here?” he stammered, his voice tight. Sarah gestured to the laptop, her eyebrow raised. The game was up. She saw the social media icon.

“Just checking on my boy,” she said softly, her voice betraying the unease she felt. “What were you working on so late?”