Gemotions

The doorbell chimed, a cheerful sound that grated on her nerves. She peered through the peephole to see a delivery man holding a bouquet of sunflowers. Their joyous faces felt… wrong. She signed for them anyway, the paper cold in her trembling hand.

The sunflowers were a betrayal of the day. The bright yellow seemed to pulsate with a vitality she couldn't summon. She set them down on the countertop, avoiding their direct gaze. All she could think of was her mistake, the one that had landed her where she was.

She pulled out a chair and sat down, her back slumping. Sunlight, filtered by the blinds, striped the kitchen floor. She felt the tears welling, unbidden, and quickly swiped them away. The sunflowers kept smiling, oblivious to the storm inside her.