Refined

“Everyone should strive to become this…curated,” I said to myself. I snapped photos and loaded them to social media.

I went live to show off the new makeup look I tried for school.

My phone buzzed nonstop with a stream of likes, comments, and follows. Then my dad called. He never called me.

He kept calling me, again and again.

I muted myself but left the stream running. I answered the phone.

“Vanessa, your mom is in the hospital, I’m on my way now. She had a heart attack and they are trying to revive her. Get to the hospital as soon as you can.”

I hung up. I looked at the camera.

Was my reaction what they expected?

Did I look shocked enough…without ruining my makeup?