Ignoring her presumptuous question, he asked his own: “How did you get in here?”

“I’m your sister. You know, if you think about it, it’s not a total lie; I was your sister… in Christ!” Punchline delivered, she released her giggles.

He actually allowed her to see a small smile, despite his indignation with her earlier comments. He had always found it a little silly how the ministers always talked about being ‘brothers and sisters in Christ’.

In response, her own smile softened. “But really. I don’t know why I can’t stop saying these things. I’m sorry, I know I sounded like a cunt before.”

He cringed at the crass word.

“I didn’t really mean to be like that to you.” She lightly touched his forearm and sighed. “The past we have in common is a thing that’s hard to let go of. You remind me of it every time I look at your doey, brown eyes.” Now she looked close to tears. “I really just wanted to focus on other things—” Her hand was wandering. Just when he was starting to feel sad for her

“Don’t.”