I picked up my cards and stared at the red and black numbers.

“My father said I’m just average and they can’t afford to save me.”

Rachel laid down a run of three spades, lining them up perfectly.

“Your father is a fool who measures people like corporate investments,” she said softly.

She didn’t look up from the table.

“You’re incredibly strong, Hannah, and he’s completely wrong about you.”

We played three full hands of rummy in complete silence.

The nausea faded into a dull, manageable ache behind my ribs.