Gemotions

The vibrant sunflowers arrived as a surprise. The cheerful arrangement felt jarring, intrusive. She usually adored sunflowers, but now, the bold colours felt like a challenge. The lack of a card was a puzzle, a riddle.

She went through her mental list of people, trying to figure out who could have sent them. Each potential sender felt like a suspect. She felt a pressing need to isolate. She locked the doors, drew the curtains, and turned off the phone.

She ate a frozen dinner without tasting it. She spent the rest of the evening staring at the flowers, the yellow petals like accusing eyes.