Came home for the holidays, but my mom opened the door and said, “You weren’t invited — this is for family only.” I turned around without a word; minutes later, my sister texted, “Don’t take it personally — you know how you are.”

and ate breakfast alone at a small diner.

Afterward, I wandered through a holiday market.

Families were everywhere.

Parents holding their children’s hands.

Couples drinking coffee.

People laughing beneath Christmas lights.

In ten minutes, I watched strangers show more warmth toward one another than I had experienced from my family in years.

Around noon, I walked into a law office.

I had found the firm online the night before.

Nothing huge or intimidating.

Just a respectable local practice.

That afternoon, I met an attorney named Greg.

He was in his