Gemotions

The sunlight seemed to taunt Clara. It poured through the window, illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air, a constant reminder of things left undone. The doorbell rang, a discordant note in the quiet of her apartment.

She hesitantly opened the door to find a bouquet of lilies and baby's breath. No card. A feeling of…something, she couldn’t name it, settled in her stomach.

She carried the flowers to the kitchen. The delicate fragrance of the lilies was nearly suffocating. She fumbled for a vase, her hands clumsy, and arranged the blooms, watching them wilt before her eyes. The task was finished, but the emptiness remained, a gaping hole where joy once thrived.