Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows as Amelia retrieved the mail. She almost missed the thin, cream-colored envelope nestled amongst the bills and junk. Back inside, the warmth of her apartment chased away the chill that had settled in her bones. She turned the card over, examining the blank, unadorned back. The lack of a name made the gesture feel more…pure.

A smile crept across her face as she opened the card. Inside, a simple message wished her a happy birthday. It was the sentiment, the thoughtfulness, that warmed her. Amelia immediately thought of her grandmother, who had passed last year. She held the card close, inhaling the faint scent of lilac perfume that clung to it.

Later, she baked a cake, humming a forgotten tune. Each step, from cracking the eggs to swirling the frosting, was performed with an extra measure of care. She decorated it with the little candles she’d saved from last year.