Gemotions

The flickering screen cast a blue glow across Amelia’s face as she scrolled. Late nights and stolen moments were becoming her specialty. She felt a prickle of unease as she tapped on the "Friends" tab, her finger hovering over the list. Her daughter, Chloe, was usually very open with her, but lately, a subtle shift had occurred. Chloe was glued to her phone, constantly texting and giggling, the source of which remained a mystery. Amelia had to know.

Her heart hammered a staccato rhythm against her ribs. She navigated to the "Add Friend" search bar. The username, a nonsensical string of letters and numbers, was the only clue she had. It looked like a password to a hidden door. The first few searches turned up nothing. She breathed in and typed the name again, this time adding a space.

She clicked on the only profile that matched. There it was. A profile picture of Chloe, a selfie with a group of teenagers she had never met. Amelia's stomach twisted.