Gemotions

The world felt muted to Sarah. She scrolled through the "SecretSelf" Twitter account of her daughter, Chloe, each post a fresh stab. Chloe, who presented as relentlessly cheerful, here confessed anxieties and insecurities. Longing for friends, feeling inadequate, the things Sarah tried to protect her from. Each tweet was a tiny, sharp needle of pain.

Her hands shook slightly as she put her phone down. She felt the sudden urge to take a long, hot shower. The water wouldn't wash away the feeling clinging to her, a suffocating blanket. She didn't understand this Chloe, the vulnerable girl hidden beneath the surface. It was as if she was watching a movie of her own life, but couldn't control the ending. She felt a profound sense of loss, a disconnection from her own child.

She could barely bring herself to look at her reflection.