Gemotions

The world seemed to spin a little faster for Maria. The to-do lists, the deadlines, the endless demands on her time – it was all a blur. Her daughter, Sofia, had been unusually quiet lately, avoiding eye contact, spending hours in her room. Maria had assumed it was school pressures, the usual teenage angst.

One evening, while idly browsing Sofia's Instagram, a suspicious profile popped up. It was Sofia, but not the Sofia she knew. The pictures were different, the captions cryptic, the comments… hurtful. She felt a cold dread settle in her stomach. A wave of nausea washed over her.

She sat on the edge of Sofia's bed, later that night, the words catching in her throat. She needed to be strong, to be understanding. But all she felt was the crushing weight of the unknown. Her hands trembled as she gestured at the phone screen, the unfamiliar profile glaring back at them. Sofia just looked away.