I notice the money or check, then I’ll read the message in the card.

Address.

Love.

Sign.

Initial.

It’s so clever:

Other people expressing

OUR emotions

For US.

In sparkles.

In glitter.

In perfect penmanship.

Flowery penmanship.

Like plastic roses

With real thorns

That hurt sometimes.

But sometimes it feels good to bleed.

And see blood.

And watch it pump like a water main break

That happens at the tips of your fingers

And

DRIPS

Onto the carpet.

Suddenly you realize that

You missed the emotional impact.

You realize how fucking fake.

And how fucking pathetic.

And how fucking despondent.

And how fucking DESPERATE

We have become.

I know I sound melodramatic.

But it’s a side effect.

Shopping at HALLMARK.