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James Garrett

“UM, SIR?” THE RED-HEADED postal agent looked over my postcard and shook her head “I really think it’s best if you send this type of thing in a sealed envelope”

“I need to be sure that she reads it upon delivery”

“Right Well?” She cleared her throat “I can guarantee that several people are going to read this long before delivery, so I think you should consider buying more than just a stamp This seems a bit personal”

“It’s e me for the stamp, please”

“Wait a second” She set it to the side and looked into my eyes “I take it that this is your first real breakup?”

I knew I should’ve used the da in here

“I’ll take your silence as a yes,” she said “I know you didn’t ask forthat the breakup is still fresh?”

I said nothing I pointed to my credit card

“You knohenever the heartbreak is nee tend to say things we don’t s and …”

I ers atop the counter and hoping her lips would stop

Contrary to her assumption, the breakup wasn’t “fresh” at all Today hteenth month since we’d last spoken And while Kate was probably traipsing vineyards in the south of France and living the lavish lifestyle she’d always known, I was still struggling to sleep at night Still rolling over and reaching for her?even when I was lying next to someone else

“If I were you ?” The postal psychologist was still talking “I would rip this postcard to shreds, walk out of here with your head held high, and cos The sooner you do that, the sooner you can start getting over this woman” She smiled as she handed over my credit card

“Besides,” she said, “you don’t looklove was intense, but later, when you look back at it, I’m sure you’ll see that it was never the ‘forever’ type that was built to last” She finally took a breath “So, what do you say?”

“Give oddamn envelope”

The aftermath

Sean

(Yes, o, but since I don’t feel like writing a novel about why it’s different now, I’ll explain it later)