Gemotions

The doorbell chimed, a gentle sound that seemed to echo in the sudden stillness of her apartment. She peered through the peephole, her heart giving a little jump. A delivery person, holding a bouquet overflowing with lilies and something else, a deep burgundy she didn’t recognize. Her breath hitched.

She opened the door, and the scent – a heady, intoxicating perfume – washed over her. The man handed her the flowers and offered a polite smile. "No card," he said, and with that he was gone. She stood there, the weight of the blooms heavy in her arms, sunlight catching the dew drops on the petals.

She retreated inside, shutting the door softly behind her. The living room suddenly felt too small, too ordinary. She placed the flowers on the kitchen table, her fingers tracing the velvety texture of a rose. Who? Why? The questions swirled in her mind, a delightful flurry of confusion.