Gemotions

He stared at the screen, the illicit account revealing layers of his son, Leo, he never knew existed. The online persona was brash, confident, a stark contrast to Leo's quiet, introverted nature in the real world. A coldness settled into Mark’s chest.

He felt a pang of… something. Was it guilt? Regret? He found himself looking back on his own teenage years, the mistakes, the insecurities, the desperate need for acceptance. He remembered the feeling of being misunderstood.

He walked to the window, gazing out at the street. He had a sudden urge to understand what was going on in Leo’s life. He would start slowly. He would offer to drive Leo to his friend’s house, and hope for some sort of conversation.