It’s only a birthday cake,
and not even mine.
It shouldn’t matter—
just a slice.

But what weighs heavy
is the thoughtfulness,
the not being remembered.

Yesterday I covered your shift,
so you could run to the cafeteria
and grab a free treat.
I thought of you,
so you could taste
the same joy I did.

And this taught me—
we should never be kind
expecting something in return.

Not that I expected a reward.
I did it out of partnership,
because I thought
we were friends.

But no—
we’re just coworkers.
Nothing more.