Gemotions

The doorbell chimed, a cheerful sound that felt like a pinprick in her chest. Amelia, perched on the edge of the sofa, hadn’t moved in an hour. Her gaze was fixed on the condensation tracing lazy rivers down the windowpane. It was a bleak, grey day, mirroring the mood that had settled upon her.

She opened the door to a delivery man holding a vibrant bouquet of sunflowers. No card. Her stomach lurched. Who? Why? The sunflowers were absurdly bright, a jarring contrast to the shadows that had been her constant companions lately.

"Sign here, ma'am," the delivery man said, breaking the silence. Amelia scribbled her name, the pen wobbling in her hand. She closed the door, the sunflowers now radiating their cheerfulness in her hallway. She had no idea who sent them, and it filled her with a profound feeling of unease.