Gemotions

The chipped mug warmed Amelia’s hands as she stared out the kitchen window, the morning sun doing nothing to penetrate the grey cloud hanging over her. Her daughter, Chloe, was usually up by now, but the house remained eerily silent. She scrolled through Instagram again, a familiar ache blooming in her chest as she saw the curated lives of her friends. Everyone seemed to have it all.

A ping from her email. The school counselor. Another issue with Chloe’s attendance. She let out a sigh that felt like a physical weight, pressing down on her shoulders. Grabbing the laptop, she headed upstairs.

Chloe’s door was slightly ajar. Hesitantly, she pushed it open. Chloe was curled up in bed, phone clutched to her chest. Amelia saw it then, a different screen, a different name. A profile she didn’t know. Her breath hitched. The carefully constructed facade she tried to present seemed to crumble in her stomach.