One fabulous Thinker

  I was at a gift exchange, and I saw something that broke my heart a little. The room was full of laughter as we opened gifts—until someone asked, "Wait… where's Sarah's gift?" Sarah was there. She brought a gift. She joined in. But the person who drew her name didn't show up. No text. No heads-up. Nothing. The room went quiet. Awkward. Heavy. Then our kind ladies sprang into action. Someone ran to their car. Someone else ran into her office. Within minutes, Sarah had something to unwrap. Problem solved, right? Not really. I saw her smile—too bright. Her "thank you" was a little too quick. She laughed, but it didn't reach her eyes. She fidgeted. She played along, but the hurt was there. And I kept thinking: You know that feeling too, don't you? When you're trying so hard to act like everything's all right, it actually hurts more. Driving home, I imagined Sarah sitting in her car, replaying the whole thing. Would anyone have noticed if s...