Gemotions

The card was tucked between a bank statement and a pizza coupon. She almost missed it. Her breath hitched. It was a simple, floral design. She was thirty today. Nobody knew.

She pulled out the card, her heart hammering against her ribs. The handwriting was elegant, unfamiliar. “Wishing you all the best on your special day.” No name.

She felt a pressure in her chest. A wave of exhaustion washed over her. She worked two jobs, struggled to pay her bills and had very little left. The thought of another year passing by, unseen, untouched, terrified her. This card… it was as if someone had heard her silent scream.