“Are you smoking again?”

Puffs of warm air curled over the cell phone; she did in fact wish it was tobacco.

“No, it’s just too loud inside is’all.”

Light from the party flooded her feet and gallantly lit the porch before disappearing muted into the skyline. Her family became a stage full of shadow puppets; temporarily silent.

“I don’t think anyone would blame you. We all know what you’ve come home to.”

“I seriously doubt that-”, someone rapped on the glass. It was her uncle with a glass of wine half emptied and one of her mothers artfully done up gifts in his other hand.

“Come down to Good Times, ok? It’s ladies night, I’ll stand you a round.”

“No- every ones opening up presents, I have to go.”

“You don’t owe them anything.”

Her friends voice hung in the air as more heads turned her way, red and gold and green wrapping paper caught the light.

“I know.”