Gemotions

The lilies arrived at precisely 9:00 AM, a monstrous, fragrant intrusion. Amelia nearly gagged the moment she saw the delivery man’s boxy van. She considered slamming the door and pretending she wasn't home. Instead, she took the bouquet, its heavy sweetness already causing her sinuses to throb. She tried to make eye contact with the delivery man, to signal her displeasure, but he was already halfway back to his vehicle.

She carried them inside, the scent intensifying with every step. Her stomach churned. The vibrant hues of the flowers felt somehow mocking against the sterile white of her apartment. She set them on the kitchen counter, the only surface not covered in the detritus of her meticulously planned day.

"Absolutely not," she muttered, grabbing a trash bag. The cloying perfume filled the room, and she felt a prickle of sweat break out on her forehead. The paper crinkled loudly as she prepared to throw the whole lot away.