“Mark?”

“Hey, Shane.”

There was silence for a few beats that seemed like a lifetime to Mark.

“What are you doing here?”

“I… I wanted to apologize.”

“It’s Thanksgiving.”

Mark just blinked at her. Was that supposed to make a difference? Was there some sacred tradition that he couldn’t interrupt or something?

“Yeah, well… I just wanted to be here when everyone else was, you know… so they all have an equal chance to kill me.”

Shane looked down at the ground, mulling over whether she wanted to let him in or not.

“Please… I just want a chance to say how sorry I am.”

She glanced up at him, staring for only a few seconds before stepping aside so he could walk in.

“Floor’s yours.”

He smiled weakly at her, a smile that wasn’t returned, and muttered “Thanks.”

“Hey, everyone.” He breathed as everyone slowly stopped what they were doing and stared at him.

“What the fuck are you doing here? Shane, how could you let him in our house?” Jenny asked, her voice rising as she gestured towards Mark.

“Guy wants to apologize.” Shane muttered, shrugging.

“Look, Jenny, I know you’re mad at me, but…. Where’s Carmen?”

More silence as nobody wanted to say what had happened in front of Shane.

“She left.” Shane finally whispered.

“Oh. Well… I still just wanna say I’m sorry, you know? I don’t know what came over me, there was this compelling need for me to know, and it took over your lives… I can’t pretend that what I did was justified, or right in any way, shape, or form, I just wanted you guys to know that I’m truly sorry, and… I wish there was something I could do, but I know there’s not. I stole your lives, and for that I’m truly sorry.”

There were a few seconds of disbelieving silence as everybody looked anywhere but at Mark or Jenny, who now had tears trickling down her cheeks.

“You’re right. You stole our lives. There’s a line where, after you cross it, there’s no turning back. You not only crossed it, you long jumped over it. You bounded across it laughing and singing. And you know what? It’s still not okay, and it will never be okay. You didn’t come here because you thought it would be. You came here because you need closure on the issue, because you want to feel better about yourself. Well, you know what? It’s not my job to make you feel good. So why don’t you go fuck yourself?” Jenny stated firmly and calmly.

Mark sighed.

“All right. Bye, I guess.”

“Yeah, bye.”