Gemotions

Rain lashed against the window as David held the card. It featured a cartoon dog with a giant bone, the inside blank except for the words “Happy Birthday.” A wave of sadness washed over him. He knew what it felt like to be overlooked, to be forgotten. His own birthday was last week, a quiet affair, a silent ache.

He pondered who might have sent it. He had no clue. Could be anyone. He considered the loneliness of the elderly residents at the nearby assisted living facility. Maybe one of them had a sympathetic heart, too.

He decided he would buy some new paints. He knew that the kids at the after-school program needed supplies. He would go to the store and get them a new set. He found himself smiling faintly, the sting of his own solitude lessening with the thought of another's joy.