Gemotions

The vase teetered precariously on the kitchen counter, the tulips swaying back and forth in a gentle breeze. She stared at them, her fingers tracing the smooth curve of the glass, the cold surface offering little comfort. The silence in the apartment was deafening, amplified by the insistent thumping in her ears. No note.

She sank to the floor, her back against the cool tiles. Her chest tightened, making each breath a struggle. The vibrant colours of the flowers blurred before her eyes, merging into a single, terrifying mass. She felt an overwhelming urge to scream, to shatter the quiet, to break the awful stillness that pressed in on her.