Nelly and Sam

Present 5

Christie started first, "Nelly..."

"I just want to thank him." Nelly said softly, her voice nearing a whisper. 

Inhale

Exhale

"I just want to thank him for fucking up my life."

She tried to sound strong, but her voice broke at the end and her eyes started to water and they pulled away from Paul's gaze at the last minute.

Her fists were balled up and her breath caught in her throat and her heart rate increased and

She was mad.

And she was especially mad because, as usual, when it came to the perfected art of confronting her father, she had just imagined the last ten minutes.

Her father was the one to break the silence, "Well are you going to tell us what you're thankful for, sweetie?"

Nelly put on a smile, a rigid, ever-so-fake smile, "All of you."