Gemotions

The doorbell chimed, a cheerful sound that felt at odds with the drizzle outside. Amelia, fresh from a shower and still wrapped in a towel, peered through the peephole. No one. She opened the door cautiously. On the doormat sat a bouquet of lilies, their creamy petals pristine. Her breath hitched. She scanned the street, then the building's entrance. Nothing. Who? Why? A chill traced its way down her spine despite the warmth of the humid air.

She brought them inside, the scent filling her small apartment. They were lovely, undeniably so, but the lack of a note left her adrift. She’d broken up with David last month. He was the only person who’d ever given her flowers. She sat at the kitchen table, staring at the lilies, a knot forming in her stomach.

The next day, she re-arranged them. The day after that, she threw them away, finally accepting the mystery could never be resolved.