Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows, mirroring the tempest brewing inside Amelia. The apartment felt colder than usual, even with the thermostat cranked up. She’d been staring at the television, but the vibrant colours and cheerful voices did nothing to penetrate the gloom that had settled over her.

A knock. Amelia almost didn’t answer. Eventually, curiosity won. A delivery person stood on her doorstep, holding a bouquet of lilies. No card. Just the stark white flowers, their fragrance a sweet, cloying assault on her senses. She took them wordlessly, the stems cool and slick against her palm.

She set them on the kitchen table, the pristine white clashing with the clutter around them. She considered throwing them out immediately, but something held her back. The unknown sender, the lack of explanation – it fueled the emptiness she’d been experiencing all day. She pulled out a vase and filled it with water, her movements slow and deliberate, each action heavy with unspoken resentment.