Christmas is a Time for Love and Forgiveness
It’s Christmas Eve and I’m curled up on the sofa, crying. A few weeks ago my love of my life said goodbye. Since then I’ve lost my Christmas spirit. No
Christmas cards have been sent out, the ones received in the post are lying on the floor by the door. The curtains are drawn and the only warmth, and source of light, is the small log fire which is slowly dying. My head moved slowly from my knees and I looked in the direction of the door.
I thought I heard the door open. Slowly I got of the sofa and walked to the living room door. I opened it slightly and saw someone pick up the pile of
Christmas cards. Only three people had a key for this house. Myself, my mother and my lover. Seeing the short blonde hair told me who it was.
“Kian?” I asked in disbelieve, my voice a bit croaky after the crying.
He didn’t jump out of his skin like I thought he would. He simply turned round and looked at me. It was then when I realised what I was wearing. I was
still wearing the rose red night gown. Has 2 weeks really passed? It still feels the same day.
When I looked into his eyes I saw the sadness and the guilt. He didn’t move, he just looked at me. After what felt like hours he said “Hi.”
“What are you doing here?” I asked
Kian hesitated, looking for the right words to say. Then he said “Thought I see you. See how you were doing.”
“Ring the bell next time.”
“I’m sorry. Why Don’t you get cleaned up and I see what I can do around the house. That is if it’s OK with you of course.”
“Yeah. Of course. Everything is still in it place.”
“OK. Take your time. I’ll start in the kitchen.”
“OK.”
I made my way to the stairs, keeping my eyes on Kian. Unwillingly I looked away from him as I walked up the stairs. When I got to the last step, I looked
back to see Kian still standing by the door.
While I relaxed in the bath my mind was wondering. Could I be dreaming all this? I pinched myself and answered myself with a no. It was all real. Kian was
downstairs, sorting things out. I had seen the real sadness, the real guilt in his eyes. If only I had some warning he was coming back. I would have sorted
myself out before he came so I could have more time with him. Then I remembered. There was an envelope with his handwriting on it. I wished
I had opened it. Maybe a warning was in there. Ashamed with myself, I closed my eyes.
About an hour or so later I got out of the bath and went into my room. I walked to the wardrobe and opened the door. I didn’t see much in there, no doubt
things are waiting to be done downstairs. I cringed at the thought of Kian seeing the pile of dirty laundry.
I managed to put an appropriate outfit together. A pair of jeans that had the right leg ripped off to the knee and a lilac shirt. I took the clothes of the
hangers and began to get dressed. When I was dressed, I went to brush my hair. That’s when I looked in the mirror. I didn’t realise how pale I was. I’m
surprised Kian didn’t say anything. I just shrugged my shoulders at my appearance and left the room.
As I got to the stairs, the smell of something freshly baked got my nose. The smell made me realise I was actually hungry. I walked down the stairs carefully, smelling the air as I went. I walked down the pale green hallway and stopped in door frame of the kitchen. I could hear the washing machine and the dish washer on. As I looked around the kitchen I saw what Kian has cooked. A Christmas pudding. The only thing, or rather someone, I didn’t see was Kian. But as if he could hear my thoughts he came in from outside. He suddenly stopped in tracks
when he saw me. Then a smile appeared.
“I just took some rubbish out to the bins.” He explained “You hungry? The Christmas pudding should be cool enough by now.”
I just nodded. I watched him as he walked around the kitchen, taking plates out of a cupboard, a knife from one drawer and a couple of forks from another.
We both walked to the table and sat down. Kian cut a piece of Christmas pudding, placed it on the plate and handed it to me. Then he cut a piece for himself. We ate in silence, looking everywhere but each other. Surprisingly the tension faded away when we finally met each others gaze.
Kian broke the silence when he said “So? Not in a Christmas mood then?
“Why? Is it that obvious” I asked
“Just. Don’t let me ruin your Christmas spirit Sally.”
“Too late for that.”
“Never too late. It’s 3’o clock in the afternoon of Christmas Eve. There’s still time to get the spirit out.”
“I had the spirit until two weeks ago Kian.” I said bitterly
“I know I’m the only one to blame but Christmas is a time for… for forgiveness.”
“You asking me to forgive you?”
“No. Let me help you get the decorations up. At least the Christmas tree.”
I looked at him. I still hated him for what he did to me two weeks ago but I enjoyed his company. And thinking about it, I hated not having any decorations
up.
“OK Kian. Let’s get the tree and everything else up.” I said
Kian’s eyes lit up and he walked out of the kitchen. I piled the plates up, covered the pudding, and took the plates to the sink. As I washed the dishes, I
heard Kian making several trips up and down the stairs. I had to smile when he stood in door frame, slightly tired after dealing with the last box.
“Too many boxes.” He exclaimed “Anyway, let’s get decorating! Hey have you got any Christmas Cds?”
“Stupid question. Get started and I’ll put the music on.” I said
“OK. Christmas tree first or last?”
I rolled my eyes. He should know by now. “Last.” I said
“Great. I’ll be in the living room.”
Kian walked to the living room. I noticed a little skip before he disappeared. How can I stay angry at him? The look in his eyes, his reactions,
his enjoyment… Christmas truly is the time for forgiveness. And a time for love. I walked into the living room and immediately started laughing. Kian somehow had gotten himself tangled up in tinsel. I ignored his plea for help and went to the CD player. I placed a CD in and pressed play. When I got to Kian, the music of “Let it Snow” started to fill the room…
By 9’o clock at night, the house decorated. The Christmas tree stood in the right corner of the living room with the twinkling away. Kian put some more logs
on the small log fire. We settled on the sofa, his back against the arm and my head resting on his chest. All anger forgotten. The hatred, the pain gone. How easy it was to forgive him, to love him again.
I had opened all the Christmas cards. Kian had sent a letter with his, saying he was sorry, that he still loved me. Explaining to me he needed time to think
things through and how he didn’t mean to hurt me the way he did. When things were explained, it was easy to eagerly wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him.
We stayed like this until we drifted to sleep, letting the last gentle flame of the fire die out.
The next morning I woke up. I had expected to be on the sofa, but I was surprised to find myself in my bed. Kian must of woke up during the night and
carried me here. Kian. Was yesterday still so real like it had been? I got out of the bed and made my way to the door. I opened it and looked
around. I could see the little paper robins in each corner of the doors. So yesterday was real. At least the decorating part was. I walked down the stairs
and headed straight to the living room. He was there. Kian was standing in front of the Christmas tree with a broad smile on his face.
“Kian, what have you done?” I asked
“I haven’t done anything.” he objected “Not yet.”
I raised an eye brow and said “Oh?”
I watched him get on one knee and produce a small black box. My hand reached for my neck and a little gasp escaped my lips.
“Sally, I know what I did was wrong and I’m thankful for you to forgive me.” he said “I don’t want to hurt you again. I love you and I want to spend the rest
of my life with you. Sally, will you marry me?”
I didn’t answer. I didn’t even let him show me the ring. I ran to him, wrapped my arms around him and kissed him. After a few minutes, we pulled apart
and he said “Is that a yes then?”
I laughed a little and kissed him again. We kissed a little longer before he said “It’s a yes.”
And for the rest of the day, ignoring the presents, the phone calls and the door bell, we made love.
The end
Christmas cards have been sent out, the ones received in the post are lying on the floor by the door. The curtains are drawn and the only warmth, and source of light, is the small log fire which is slowly dying. My head moved slowly from my knees and I looked in the direction of the door.
I thought I heard the door open. Slowly I got of the sofa and walked to the living room door. I opened it slightly and saw someone pick up the pile of
Christmas cards. Only three people had a key for this house. Myself, my mother and my lover. Seeing the short blonde hair told me who it was.
“Kian?” I asked in disbelieve, my voice a bit croaky after the crying.
He didn’t jump out of his skin like I thought he would. He simply turned round and looked at me. It was then when I realised what I was wearing. I was
still wearing the rose red night gown. Has 2 weeks really passed? It still feels the same day.
When I looked into his eyes I saw the sadness and the guilt. He didn’t move, he just looked at me. After what felt like hours he said “Hi.”
“What are you doing here?” I asked
Kian hesitated, looking for the right words to say. Then he said “Thought I see you. See how you were doing.”
“Ring the bell next time.”
“I’m sorry. Why Don’t you get cleaned up and I see what I can do around the house. That is if it’s OK with you of course.”
“Yeah. Of course. Everything is still in it place.”
“OK. Take your time. I’ll start in the kitchen.”
“OK.”
I made my way to the stairs, keeping my eyes on Kian. Unwillingly I looked away from him as I walked up the stairs. When I got to the last step, I looked
back to see Kian still standing by the door.
While I relaxed in the bath my mind was wondering. Could I be dreaming all this? I pinched myself and answered myself with a no. It was all real. Kian was
downstairs, sorting things out. I had seen the real sadness, the real guilt in his eyes. If only I had some warning he was coming back. I would have sorted
myself out before he came so I could have more time with him. Then I remembered. There was an envelope with his handwriting on it. I wished
I had opened it. Maybe a warning was in there. Ashamed with myself, I closed my eyes.
About an hour or so later I got out of the bath and went into my room. I walked to the wardrobe and opened the door. I didn’t see much in there, no doubt
things are waiting to be done downstairs. I cringed at the thought of Kian seeing the pile of dirty laundry.
I managed to put an appropriate outfit together. A pair of jeans that had the right leg ripped off to the knee and a lilac shirt. I took the clothes of the
hangers and began to get dressed. When I was dressed, I went to brush my hair. That’s when I looked in the mirror. I didn’t realise how pale I was. I’m
surprised Kian didn’t say anything. I just shrugged my shoulders at my appearance and left the room.
As I got to the stairs, the smell of something freshly baked got my nose. The smell made me realise I was actually hungry. I walked down the stairs carefully, smelling the air as I went. I walked down the pale green hallway and stopped in door frame of the kitchen. I could hear the washing machine and the dish washer on. As I looked around the kitchen I saw what Kian has cooked. A Christmas pudding. The only thing, or rather someone, I didn’t see was Kian. But as if he could hear my thoughts he came in from outside. He suddenly stopped in tracks
when he saw me. Then a smile appeared.
“I just took some rubbish out to the bins.” He explained “You hungry? The Christmas pudding should be cool enough by now.”
I just nodded. I watched him as he walked around the kitchen, taking plates out of a cupboard, a knife from one drawer and a couple of forks from another.
We both walked to the table and sat down. Kian cut a piece of Christmas pudding, placed it on the plate and handed it to me. Then he cut a piece for himself. We ate in silence, looking everywhere but each other. Surprisingly the tension faded away when we finally met each others gaze.
Kian broke the silence when he said “So? Not in a Christmas mood then?
“Why? Is it that obvious” I asked
“Just. Don’t let me ruin your Christmas spirit Sally.”
“Too late for that.”
“Never too late. It’s 3’o clock in the afternoon of Christmas Eve. There’s still time to get the spirit out.”
“I had the spirit until two weeks ago Kian.” I said bitterly
“I know I’m the only one to blame but Christmas is a time for… for forgiveness.”
“You asking me to forgive you?”
“No. Let me help you get the decorations up. At least the Christmas tree.”
I looked at him. I still hated him for what he did to me two weeks ago but I enjoyed his company. And thinking about it, I hated not having any decorations
up.
“OK Kian. Let’s get the tree and everything else up.” I said
Kian’s eyes lit up and he walked out of the kitchen. I piled the plates up, covered the pudding, and took the plates to the sink. As I washed the dishes, I
heard Kian making several trips up and down the stairs. I had to smile when he stood in door frame, slightly tired after dealing with the last box.
“Too many boxes.” He exclaimed “Anyway, let’s get decorating! Hey have you got any Christmas Cds?”
“Stupid question. Get started and I’ll put the music on.” I said
“OK. Christmas tree first or last?”
I rolled my eyes. He should know by now. “Last.” I said
“Great. I’ll be in the living room.”
Kian walked to the living room. I noticed a little skip before he disappeared. How can I stay angry at him? The look in his eyes, his reactions,
his enjoyment… Christmas truly is the time for forgiveness. And a time for love. I walked into the living room and immediately started laughing. Kian somehow had gotten himself tangled up in tinsel. I ignored his plea for help and went to the CD player. I placed a CD in and pressed play. When I got to Kian, the music of “Let it Snow” started to fill the room…
By 9’o clock at night, the house decorated. The Christmas tree stood in the right corner of the living room with the twinkling away. Kian put some more logs
on the small log fire. We settled on the sofa, his back against the arm and my head resting on his chest. All anger forgotten. The hatred, the pain gone. How easy it was to forgive him, to love him again.
I had opened all the Christmas cards. Kian had sent a letter with his, saying he was sorry, that he still loved me. Explaining to me he needed time to think
things through and how he didn’t mean to hurt me the way he did. When things were explained, it was easy to eagerly wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him.
We stayed like this until we drifted to sleep, letting the last gentle flame of the fire die out.
The next morning I woke up. I had expected to be on the sofa, but I was surprised to find myself in my bed. Kian must of woke up during the night and
carried me here. Kian. Was yesterday still so real like it had been? I got out of the bed and made my way to the door. I opened it and looked
around. I could see the little paper robins in each corner of the doors. So yesterday was real. At least the decorating part was. I walked down the stairs
and headed straight to the living room. He was there. Kian was standing in front of the Christmas tree with a broad smile on his face.
“Kian, what have you done?” I asked
“I haven’t done anything.” he objected “Not yet.”
I raised an eye brow and said “Oh?”
I watched him get on one knee and produce a small black box. My hand reached for my neck and a little gasp escaped my lips.
“Sally, I know what I did was wrong and I’m thankful for you to forgive me.” he said “I don’t want to hurt you again. I love you and I want to spend the rest
of my life with you. Sally, will you marry me?”
I didn’t answer. I didn’t even let him show me the ring. I ran to him, wrapped my arms around him and kissed him. After a few minutes, we pulled apart
and he said “Is that a yes then?”
I laughed a little and kissed him again. We kissed a little longer before he said “It’s a yes.”
And for the rest of the day, ignoring the presents, the phone calls and the door bell, we made love.
The end