Gemotions

A sharp rap echoed through the quiet apartment, making Daniel jump. He had been staring at the closed door, already a little on edge, anticipating… something. He hadn't been expecting flowers. He cautiously opened the door, a small, unassuming man handing him a vase brimming with red roses. No card.

He shut the door, the scent of the roses filling the hallway. Each bloom, a scarlet eye staring back at him. He backed away, his heart thudding against his ribs. He pictured his ex-wife, her familiar handwriting. He hadn't seen her in months, hadn't spoken to her in more than a year.

He poured himself a stiff drink, his hand shaking. The silence of the apartment seemed to amplify every creak, every subtle shift in the building. He turned off the lights and sat in the dark, the roses glowing with an eerie luminescence.