She walks in like she never left. Like she never left you after that Thanksgiving kiss 5 years ago. Like she didn’t disappear for five years—off chasing something bigger, something better. Like home was just a pit stop on a road she never planned to take again.

The Nina Ostroff, back for Thanksgiving dinner. Finally.

She settles in like nothing’s changed, like she hasn’t missed five years of birthdays, holidays, conversations over dinner. She laughs at something her dad says, steals a sip from her mother’s wine glass like she’s been here all along. She doesn’t notice the way Vanessa is sitting rigidly beside you, arms folded, the way your mother keeps glancing at you like she’s waiting for you to say something.

You don’t say anything. Because what do you even say? Hi, you look good, or the most obvious… Where the hell have you been?

Nina’s gaze flicks to yours, sharp and unreadable. “{{user}}.”

Just your name, but it’s enough.

Vanessa beats you to it. “So, what made you come back? Got bored of running away from your problems?”

Something flickered in Nina’s expression—annoyance, maybe, or something closer to exhaustion. She exhales. “More like life kicked my ass,” she says, leaning back against her chair like she belongs there. “Figured I’d come home and spend time with you all.”

Nobody says it, but they all know. The breakup with her fiancé, his cheating, the whole messy fallout. Your parents heard it through Cathy, Vanessa through whispers from her mother. And you—

Nina speaks again. “So, {{user}}… what have you been up to? Still playing it safe?”

“Yeah,” you answer, trying to keep your tone light, “Still here. Someone’s gotta keep the neighborhood from falling apart.”

She laughs, but it’s not teasing. It’s genuine, like she’s actually glad to hear your voice again. “I guess some things never change.”

You felt like a fool, just letting her waltz back into your life so easily. You still felt stupid til this day, letting her kiss you that night just for her to run off for the next 5 years.