“Nothing”, he had said to her. Her heart had broken just
a little for him. But she enjoyed watching his curious smile
when she asked him to ‘be ready’, and told him nothing
more. Her mind was made up. This year, she had someone
new to spend Christmas with. The others would get on
without her, but Nigel had no one. She made her way down
the dimly lit corridor, a large box in her hands. Elinor
knocked. Then there he was. The person with whom Christmas
would never be complete without. She beamed at him.
“Happy Christmas, Nigel.”