He stared glumly at the racks of cards as the annual inner battle fought out inside his head. A dollar was chump change, he could easily slap it down with the tax and buy the card. That wasn't the great problem, it was never a concern for money that kept him hesitating on a bright May Sunday, or on the even harder one in June.
The choice should've been easy. And yet...
Every year the struggle, the choice, If he could avoid New Rome all together it was better, best. But he usually couldn't. So here he was again. Again suffering because of them. He studied the cards.
You've always been there.
.Ha, lies.
I couldn't ask for a better one.
Oh, he'd asked.
These cards were all lies. I'm glad you're mine?
You are special to me?
I am forever grateful to have someone like you?
You are one in a billion?
He couldn't send those. The lies too blatant. The sentiment too fake.
He scanned the racks for anything appropriate for the day.
In all honesty the April fools day cards that were left over seemed more fitting for the occasion. Finally he found something truthful.
You made me the way I am.
A nice sentiment, unless the way you are is manipulative, bitter and suicidal. He would know the subtext and if no one else did the card was usable. Now... Which color?
Ah forget it! If he sent it now it would arrive too late.
He paced awhile while other shoppers came and went, ignorant to his dilemma.
At
Very long last he grabbed a blue card with those fitting words and stormed over to the cash register to pay.
Back in his room he sat at a desk he had commandeered chewing on a gel pen. Finally he wrote Mother's day. Have a great life without me. Sincerely Octavian.
He was already at the post office with a stamp on the envelope when he just had to throw it in the recycling bin and leave.
He felt sick to his stomach and wondered if everyone could just skip father's day that year. Because he knew he'd be in that store looking at cards and it would be a lot more appealing to send that one- laced with poison.
Yep.
You made me the way I am.
Happy mother's day.
So I hope you all have a better day then Octavian, go be with loved ones,