âââââSHE KNEW that the holidays were a rough time for a lot of people. sheâd been there herself. when things were bad, it always seemed like everyone was happier in the world, having romantic outings with their partners or hosting instagrammable dinners with their families. for a while after the death of her parents, riley got especially mopey around the holidays, but did her best to hide it for the sake of her daughter. it wasnât until her brother told her that she needed to snap out of it that she finally did, and, just after her daughterâs fourth birthday, she hosted her first âorphanâs thanksgivingâ ( an appropriate title, she thought, given the fact that she was an orphan herself ). the first year, it was just riley, logan, james, and a couple of rileyâs friends from work. it had since grown, as riley got âhooked on the feelingâ and started inviting just about everyone that she ran into in the street. this year would be no exception.
    âi was just saying that, maybe, if you didnât have anywhere else to be, you could join us. there will be food and friends, no family except for, well, mine, and so many people bring food along with them that it really ends up being a full-blown feast. i know we would be so happy to have you, and at the very least youâll eat for free and stay out of the cold. i donât need an answer now, just tell me youâll at least consider it??â