by Ashe Hope

Created on: February 05, 2010

                                                                         A BIRTHDAY LETTER

It was her birthday, and she was alone in the office. Around her were the remnants of an office birthday celebration. Plastic plates, forks and left over cake. “May your wish come true” her co-workers had chorused as she had blown out the candles.

She looked at her desk.  Her boss had signed a letter that she had typed earlier. It was to the president of a shipping company, seeking their advertising business. “Dear Mr. Smith,” it began. She thought of the number of letters that she typed, which began with that customary salutation. What would it be like, she wondered, to write a letter to a real “Dear”? A long time ago she had someone very dear. What would she write, if she could write to him?

Biting her quivering lips, she turned to her computer. Her hands flew on the keyboard. “My dear”, she began, and the words came pouring out. Her feelings for her first love, her naive acceptance of his love, and his betrayal, all of it was poured out in that letter. Glancing at the clock she realized that it was getting late. She was about to delete her writing, when she thought better of it and printed a copy of it before doing so. A dutiful employee, she dropped off her boss's letter in the office mailbox before heading home. Worn out by the long day, and unaccustomed emotion, she went to bed as soon as she got in.

The next few days were a whirl. Her boss had taken some time off, which kept her very busy. She was working late by herself, when she heard the door open.“ Hello” said a pleasant voice. “Is anyone there?” and in walked a man. She was not one to believe in apparitions, but at that moment ,she would have done so. Because,standing there, was her long lost love! It had been ten years since she had seen him, but it was unmistakably him. She felt faint and started to slide down, when strong arms grasped her. “Are you all right?” he was saying. Slowly, she came to. “What…how?” she gasped. Raising his eyebrows

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