Hannah thumbed through the birthday cards on the rack in front of her.
All of the standard sized cards were too cheesy, too touristy. The only ones that appealed were half the size. She couldn't send something so small and insignificant.
But what will I write?
"Happy birthday, hope you've learned your lesson!"
"Happy birthday, hope you're having an amazing day!"
"Happy birthday, hope to see you when you're out!"
Two days prior, Hannah had been putting on lipstick at home when her phone rang. It was the evening of her 21st, and her close friends were already present, drinking and helping prepare a few things.
"Happy Birthday Hannah," Mike's mother had begun, "I've got a special message to pass on from Mike."
Hannah didn't know how she felt at the time- almost uneasy, a little sad perhaps.
"He asked me, very genuinely, to say happy birthday to you. He really wanted to make sure I passed on the message."
"Thanks, Jan," Hannah had replied, falling down on her own mother's bed behind her, "It means a lot."
"I'll give you his address," Jan had continued.
Hannah and Mike shared birthdays in the same week, although Mike was a year older. They'd often celebrated together when they were young, seeing as Jan and Hannah's mother were such close friends.
Hannah stared at the greeting cards a little longer, before realising that perhaps a tiny card would be exactly what she needed. How much of a happy birthday can you really wish someone when they're spending it behind bars?
Dear Mike, Hannah wrote inside a tiny card she'd selected, feeling far too formal. She wanted to say something encouraging, but didn't want to imply she thought he didn't deserve to be where he was... Because, well, he did.
Thank you very much for the birthday wishes. I had a great time. Happy birthday to you too!
Once upon a time she would have included love Hannah on the end. But not since Jan had made it clear a few years ago that she wanted Hannah to leave her boyfriend to marry Mike.
Hannah licked the envelope and wrote the address on the outside, wondering if the lady at the post shop counter would eye up 'Taieri Mens' Prison' written on the front.
Hannah paid and left the tiny envelope on the counter for the shop lady to post, with no return address on the reverse, and knowing she wouldn't be able receive a personal call from Mike thanking her.
All of the standard sized cards were too cheesy, too touristy. The only ones that appealed were half the size. She couldn't send something so small and insignificant.
But what will I write?
"Happy birthday, hope you've learned your lesson!"
"Happy birthday, hope you're having an amazing day!"
"Happy birthday, hope to see you when you're out!"
Two days prior, Hannah had been putting on lipstick at home when her phone rang. It was the evening of her 21st, and her close friends were already present, drinking and helping prepare a few things.
"Happy Birthday Hannah," Mike's mother had begun, "I've got a special message to pass on from Mike."
Hannah didn't know how she felt at the time- almost uneasy, a little sad perhaps.
"He asked me, very genuinely, to say happy birthday to you. He really wanted to make sure I passed on the message."
"Thanks, Jan," Hannah had replied, falling down on her own mother's bed behind her, "It means a lot."
"I'll give you his address," Jan had continued.
Hannah and Mike shared birthdays in the same week, although Mike was a year older. They'd often celebrated together when they were young, seeing as Jan and Hannah's mother were such close friends.
Hannah stared at the greeting cards a little longer, before realising that perhaps a tiny card would be exactly what she needed. How much of a happy birthday can you really wish someone when they're spending it behind bars?
Dear Mike, Hannah wrote inside a tiny card she'd selected, feeling far too formal. She wanted to say something encouraging, but didn't want to imply she thought he didn't deserve to be where he was... Because, well, he did.
Thank you very much for the birthday wishes. I had a great time. Happy birthday to you too!
Once upon a time she would have included love Hannah on the end. But not since Jan had made it clear a few years ago that she wanted Hannah to leave her boyfriend to marry Mike.
Hannah licked the envelope and wrote the address on the outside, wondering if the lady at the post shop counter would eye up 'Taieri Mens' Prison' written on the front.
Hannah paid and left the tiny envelope on the counter for the shop lady to post, with no return address on the reverse, and knowing she wouldn't be able receive a personal call from Mike thanking her.
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