NIRELLE

He gets up from his chair and walks to me. He pulls me aggressively into a hug and lingers for a long time. I pull away after a minute of discomfort. I feel as if I should walk into a washer and wash off the feeling on my body, but I just throw him a weird smile. I don't know if he notices that I am uncomfortable or if he just does not care.

"Sit, sit," he said, beaming with joy. "You are truly my daughter; look how proud you have made me." He sounds like someone whose child had ...