Gemotions

The lilies arrived on a Tuesday, a day already steeped in the sour tang of failure. He stared at the arrangement, the vibrant white blooms mocking the gray haze that clung to the windows. He circled the vase, his fingers twitching, as though he could decipher a secret etched in the petals. *Who?* The question, a trapped bird, beat against the bars of his ribs. He slammed his fist on the counter, the sound echoing hollowly in the otherwise silent apartment. He needed to know.

He spent the rest of the day by the phone, watching it with a grim intensity. Each ring sent a jolt of electricity through him, followed by crushing disappointment. He considered calling everyone he knew, starting with his ex. The thought twisted his gut.

Later, he found himself outside, pacing the sidewalk. The streetlights cast elongated shadows, turning the familiar into a landscape of lurking threats. He wished he had just thrown them away. The beautiful blossoms only intensified the ache in his chest, the feeling of being utterly and completely lost.