for Kat, and only Kat
Not yet!
There's something in here for you. It opens on your birthday, because some things are worth waiting a little while for, and this one is.
come back as often as you like. I'll be here either way
one small thing first
Can I borrow your voice for a second?
Nothing is being recorded, nothing is saved, nothing goes anywhere. This page only needs to hear you breathe for a moment, and I promise it makes sense in about ten seconds.
Sound on, somewhere comfortable, and no rush at all.
Happy birthday, Kat!
three candles, not thirty‑two. I wanted you to still be able to breathe afterwards
Close your eyes.
three candles, three wishes. take all the time you want, I'm not going anywhere
3 candles left
wish one
Granted, straight away. You've spent so long taking care of everybody else. Today somebody is taking care of you.
wish two
Granted. The people you love, safe and well and happy, wherever they are. I'd have wished that one for you anyway.
wish three
Ah. This one is lovely, but it needs somebody else to say yes first.
Me.
A blue rose doesn't happen on its own. Somebody has to go out of their way to make one.
I've been going out of my way for a while now, and I'd happily do it again tomorrow without being asked.
You spend your whole day looking after everybody else. So today somebody made a thing that only works if you're the one holding the phone. It needed your breath to start. Nobody else in the world could have opened it.
You don't owe me an answer today, and you don't owe me one tomorrow either. Today is yours, all of it.
Happy birthday, Kat. Thirty‑two suits you, though I suspect every year does.
Go and have the day you deserve. And whenever you're ready, come and find me.
Vincent
It's raining blue roses today, not cats and dogs. The two of them turned up anyway. They wanted to be here for this.