Beyond the Screen

The living room felt like a cave where time ceased to exist. Jane sat hunched over her glowing screen, her thumbs dancing across the glass while the real world blurred into gray static. Outside, the afternoon sun stretched long, golden fingers across the floor, ignored by the girl trapped in a pixelated loop. Her eyes burned, yet she felt a hollow ache that no amount of refreshing could fill.

David appeared at the threshold, a soft silhouette against the garden's lush green backdrop. He didn't scold her for the screen time; instead, he held up a tangled mess of sapphire-blue yarn and a smooth wooden hook. The air in the room shifted, carrying the scent of cut grass and ozone from the garden. Jane looked up, squinting as if waking from a long, restless sleep.