Gemotions

A cold dread coiled in Sarah's stomach as she stared at the screen. A new Instagram account, a name she didn't recognize, and a cascade of photos featuring her daughter, Chloe, in settings that were clearly not school. Where had these pictures been taken? Who were these people? Her hands trembled, making the phone a blur.

She took a shaky breath and leaned back in her chair, the leather squeaking in protest. The silence in the house, usually a comfort, now felt oppressive, echoing the questions swirling in her head. She had to know what was going on, to understand the secret life Chloe seemed to be leading.

The clicking of the keyboard as she attempted to get the password sounded like gunshots in the sudden quiet. She felt a knot tighten in her chest, a physical manifestation of her increasing unease. This was not the daughter she knew.