Gemotions

The doorbell chimed, a bright, cheerful sound that sliced through the heavy silence of the apartment. Amelia hesitated, peering through the peephole. A delivery person, holding a bouquet of vibrant lilies, smiled up at her. Her hand trembled slightly as she took the flowers. No card. Just the scent of the lilies, cloying and sweet, filling the small space.

She set them on the kitchen table, the glossy leaves and bright blooms feeling accusatory in their perfection. The chipped paint on the table seemed to mock her. She reached for a glass of water, her fingers clumsy, the glass almost slipping from her grasp.

A coldness settled in her stomach. Who? Why? The questions swirled, a dizzying carousel in her head. She found herself rearranging the flowers, a futile attempt to impose order on the chaos blooming inside her.