A letter from Jul 01, 2025

Dear FutureMe, It’s your 28th birthday today and it’s been the worst one yet. At least, it feels that way. All day today you tried to remember if last year was just as bad and you can’t because there’s no letter so here goes. But, promise me this much, okay? If you’re reading this in 2026 and it feels like Deja Vu, you gotta leave him. It started out okay. I woke up, E got C out of bed which was great. C waddles over a wrapped gift bag that was previously on the floor of the bathroom like trash, a leftover of mine. But whatever, recycling. I open the bag to find the one thing I asked for, a bathrobe. It’s not a big fluffy robe like I wanted but, semantics. I probably wasn’t so detailed when I made the request. The problem is, I go to put it on and see that it’s a size small. A small. I am an extra large. I ask him why he bought a size small and he begins the self deprecating ********. Says that was all Walmart had, the other ones were all XXLs! Huge! They would have fit me just fine. I asked if he kept the receipt, it didn’t close. He tosses me the Walmart bag and says have at it. Like I’m the biggest ***** on earth. I cry. I get it together and I gently explain that 1. My feelings are deeply hurt and 2. I would like him to exchange it. He throws a fit but does it. Returning around noon with a new robe in a size Large from Belk which is tossed to me, at me. Basically a “are you happy now”and he storms out. Then, I worked all day. Conrad is in tantrum mode. But it got better, I spent some time outside with Conrad and I was planning to be over it. I send E a funny text about C. Trying to make peace. But, then he comes home and makes no mention of my birthday. No dinner plans, no treat. Nothing. He feeds C leftovers and we get him to bed and then he asks if I want a chicken sandwich since he’s already throwing some chicken patties in the air fryer. I made my own sandwich btw. I kept waiting for a surprise. Maybe after C goes to bed? But nothing came. So when his mother called me and asked how my day went, I said “fine”. No apology from Ethan. Then my brother calls and when he asks what I’m doing I say “nothing”. He asks what we’re doing for my birthday I say “nothing”. He calls it out asking if we did anything (on speaker) and I say “nope”. Ethan reacted to that giving me a silent WTF. And then we sat in silence. It’s 10 PM now. We haven’t spoken. I spent my whole birthday in silence on the chaise of this ******* couch. I received no love today. No meaningful gifts, attention, kindness. No treats or happies. Just animosity from Ethan, frustration from Conrad (who knows not what he does), and grief from people at work. At least they wished me a happy birthday. It all could have been turned around with an ounce of thoughtfulness. A coke picked up on his way home. A sweet treat, anything. I hate today. I mean that. This was my worst birthday yet.