Gemotions

The sunflowers sat on the kitchen table, their yellow faces mocking her. They were cheerful, vibrant, completely inappropriate. Sarah paced the worn linoleum, the silence in the apartment amplifying the erratic thump of her heart. Who? Why? She replayed the day's events, searching for a clue, a wrong word, a lingering gaze. Nothing. The doorbell’s chime, a simple melody, had shattered the quiet.

Her hands were clammy as she reached for the vase, the cool glass a temporary comfort. She pulled out the small, gold-edged card. Empty. Blank. Utterly devoid of any message. A shiver crawled up her spine, leaving gooseflesh in its wake. She slammed the card down on the counter, the noise echoing in the sudden stillness.

She checked the locks again, even though she knew they were secure. She peered through the peephole, scrutinizing the empty hallway. The elevator hummed in the distance, a low, menacing thrum. She wasn't safe. She wouldn't be safe until she knew.