Chapter 2
Vera recoiled quickly as the knife she was using slipped from her grip and fell to the ground. She had been packing her lunch for work and had let her mind wander. She woke up feeling sorry for herself that morning and was finding it hard to get through her routine . She knew she was old enough that this day should be like any other day, but to her it was a marked occasion that should be celebrated. She knew that unless she went and got it herself, there'd be no birthday cake and certainly no surprise party. Even having her mother complain while they ate a more formal meal together would be better than nothing, but she was gone too. She looked down at her sad little lunch and furrowed her brow. Get over yourself, Vera.
When Vera got to work, she signed in at the visitor's desk, and made her way to the staff room. It was empty which Vera was actually glad for, because it meant that she didn't have to make small talk. She busied away to herself making a cup of coffee, reading the notes on the cork board and waiting for her shift to start. She had come quite early just so she didn't have to be alone in her big house. How lonely was she that she'd rather be among the crackling of walkie talkies and shouts of inmates instead of being stuck in her own mind.
She figured it wouldn't hurt to start her shift early, so she went to her locker to change to her simple heels she kept there and put her purse away. Taped to the inside of her locker was a picture of a mouse wearing a birthday hat, its face covered in pink frosting. Vera smiled. She wasn't sure who had put it there, but it meant that someone had known what day it was and that gave her the pep that she needed to walk the halls feeling cared for.
Nearing the end of her shift, Vera was exhausted. Her throat hurt from needing to spend quite a bit of her day shouting during multiple scuffles that had broken out, and the heat of the day had made her hair nearly plaster to her scalp. She just wanted to go home, take a bath and eat a box of chocolates in front of a bad romantic comedy. "Vera, to my office." The Governor's voice crackled through her walkie talkie. She didn't sound angry, but she did sound insistent. Vera sighed and rubbed at her eyes. She hoped Joan didn't ask for her to take a second shift. Vera let herself in to the Governor's office and waited patiently while Joan was finishing up some paper work. With her head still down, Joan waved to the chair as an invitation for Vera to sit.
""I saw on your file that your birthday is today, Vera." Joan said finally with a smile. "Tell me, do you have any plans?"
Vera almost lied and told Joan that she was going out with friends, but she knew better than to try and convince Joan that she led a life outside this prison. "No, not this year. I should have planned better, really."
Joan leaned across her desk and put her hand out in an offering gesture. "I'm sorry to hear that, Vera." Vera smiled with a blush.
"It's okay, really."
A month before, Joan had reached over with the same gesture and Vera, without thinking, had put her hand out and grasped Joan's. It had only lasted a millisecond but it had caused Joan's eyes to widen every so slightly. Vera had been with Joan for an evening debriefing and they'd had a few drinks. Joan had allowed herself to truly laugh and Vera had the courage to be a bit charming and a delightful banter had been batted back and forth between them. Vera had apologized for touching Joan, but Joan had simply said, "Don't apologize. It was nothing."
"I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday, Vera. That's all. How about you take off an hour early. I think you've had a hard day, no?" Joan dismissed her with a soft look.
Vera thanked her and went back to the staff room. She changed back into her running shoes, and took the mouse picture off her locked and put it in her pocket. On her way back to her car she noticed a piece of paper blowing in behind her windshield wiper. If you don't have any plans, you're welcome to join me for drinks tonight after 9. - Joan