“Did somebody tell you?” I asked the server.

“Your reservation said birthday,” she answered.

I made a wish.

It wasn’t for Roger to regret leaving.

It wasn’t for a new husband to prove I’d been worth loving.

It was for the courage to keep learning what I wanted.

Back at home, Patty had left a card under the doormat.

It read: You’re allowed to be happy before you have the whole thing figured out.