Gemotions

The doorbell rang, startling her. Sarah was in the middle of a baking project, the scent of cinnamon and apples filling the air. She wiped her hands on her apron and went to answer, anticipation bubbling. A delivery person presented her with a large box, tied with a ribbon. It contained a single orchid, its delicate blooms a pale lavender. No card. Her brow furrowed.

The orchid was beautiful, but it felt...wrong. It sat on her counter, a silent, disapproving presence. She usually loved flowers, but this one made her skin crawl. She glanced at it repeatedly, her initial excitement replaced by a growing sense of disquiet. She had to force herself to finish the pie.

She went to sleep that night with the light on. The faint scent of the orchid seemed to seep into the room, a perfume that now felt tainted, heavy with an unseen meaning. Every creak of the house made her jump.