Gemotions

The world felt muted to Maya. Everything was a dull grey, the city a monotonous hum. She’d spent the morning staring out the window, watching the pedestrians move like automatons. The phone remained stubbornly silent, just as she'd expected.

A sudden rap on her door. The delivery person handed her a bouquet of mixed blooms – roses, carnations, and something she didn't recognize. No tag. Maya's jaw tightened.

She brought them inside, the scent a complicated mix that both intrigued and annoyed her. She placed them on the counter by the stove, the bright colors jarring against the plainness of the room. She started to make a coffee and she realised the kettle was broken. She sighed.