Gemotions

The phone rang, jolting her from her reverie. She hadn't been expecting any calls. A local florist was on the line, informing her of a delivery. She hadn’t ordered flowers.

A large bouquet of lilies arrived, their perfume instantly filling her small apartment. A card was attached, signed with a familiar name. A former student, now a prominent surgeon, thanking her for “planting the seeds of knowledge.”

She stared at the lilies, their pristine white blooms a stark contrast to the small, cramped apartment. The scent, once pleasant, now felt cloying. She felt a profound sense of distance, a chasm between the student's success and her own perceived lack thereof. She put the flowers in the kitchen.