Gemotions

David stared at the phone, the cheap plastic cool against his sweaty palm. His son, Mark, had been withdrawn lately, spending hours locked in his room, the door always closed. David had found the account by accident, a suggested friend on his own profile. Now, he was looking at a curated image of a life that excluded him.

He felt his chest tighten, his breath catching in his throat. The photos depicted Mark at parties, at the beach, all glowing with youth and happiness. Images he’d never witnessed. A sharp sting, like a slap, burned his cheek.

He closed the app, the screen going black, but the images were seared into his memory. A sense of being diminished hung heavily over him, making him suddenly feel so small.