Day 003

At my friend’s family’s Christmas Eve dinner, I went down alone.

I looked around the room. Awkwardly, I set my drink on the table. Offered a hesitant hello.

They said, “Sit here, Tracy.”

Just like that — a hand reaching out.

My body unclenched. I laughed. I stayed.

I noticed how little it took to be included by people who didn’t know me, simply because they decided I was already part of the room.