Gemotions

The vibrant tulips arrived this afternoon, a perfect arrangement. The delivery person asked if she wanted them placed on the counter. She had just nodded, the color draining from her face. She felt an unsettling chill spread through her as she closed the door.

She stared at the flowers for a long time. The bright hues felt too intense, too cheerful. The apartment was suddenly stifling. She opened a window, letting in the cool, evening air.

She reached for her phone, but stopped herself. It was a reflex, a desperate attempt to find answers. She didn't know what she was searching for. All she knew was that she felt irrevocably off balance.