The thrift-store deck had notes in it

Found a well-loved oracle deck at the thrift shop for $3. When I got it home I realized the previous owner had written tiny pencil notes on the backs of some cards. 'Called Mom.' 'Got the apartment!!' 'Not yet.' One just says 'Breathe, D.'

I almost erased them. Then I decided the deck had come to me as a conversation, not a blank slate.

First pull, before I'd even cleansed it: the card with 'Breathe, D.' on the back. My name doesn't start with D. I breathed anyway. Whoever you are, D, I hope you got the apartment and that things are good now.