he's got a balloon. "happy birthday yelena, because you're gay i assumed you didn't exist until pride month. your pride birth. here you go"
birthdays are CHILDREN'S affairs; noisy, sticky, && indulgent. yelena is an ADULT WOMAN with a job* && she is not paid to suffer the cacophony of the small crowd singing their discordant celebratory hymn.
she is unperturbed when the other forgets the date ― he's only off by less than half of an orbital revolution this time. what matters is that he remembers what's important: birthdays come once every calendar year; gayness is a full-time commitment, far more deserving of recognition. yelena suffers back pain from carrying the weight of an entire community on her shoulders.
so she accepts the token with a fond smile, securing it to the arm of her chair. her employer is always so thoughtful. any reviews on yelp that suggest otherwise are clearly bots, trolls, && ‘ haters ’ who know nothing about the world.
❝ --thank you for remembering my pride birth, sir. you're too kind. ❞