Our New Years Resolutions

Chapter 1

Emelia ~

Friday, December 25 2020, 6:30 am -

I woke up.

Friday, December 25 2020, 7:00am -

I ate breakfast.

Friday, December 25 2020, 7:30am -

My phone vibrated. 

I put down my journal and grab my phone off my of my dresser. I turn it on and see that I have a text from Alec. 

Alec: MERRY CHRISTMAS BABE <3333

Me: MERRY CHRISTMAS HUN XXX

I pick up my journal again and continue.

Friday, December 25 2020, 8:00am -

I brushed my teeth and got changed. 

Friday, December 25 2020, 8:15am -

My phone vibrated again.

Alec: SEE YOU FOR CHRISTMAS DINNER XX

Me: CAN'T WAIT <333

Alec: LOVE YOU X

Me: LOVE YOU MORE <3333

Friday, December 25 2020, 8:20am -

IT'S CHRISTMAS!

I put my journal back on top of my bookcase and head into the living room. 

"Good morning everyone!" I say. "Good morning Em," says my sister, Ellie. "Merry Christmas sweetheart," says my mother, Elsie. "Merry Christmas!" I say. "And happy birthday," says my father, Eddie. "Thanks, Dad," I say. "When can we open presents?" Asks Ellie. "You know the rules, no opening presents until after lunch." 

"Morning fam," says my brother, Eli. "Eli Scott! Do you know what time it is?" Exclaims Elsie. "It's 9:00am," he replies. "Exactly," says Elsie. "So?" "So, your mother told you to be up by 8:00am," says Eddie. "Whatever." Eli leaves the living room and heads into the kitchen. Elsie and Eddie come over to me with a box. "What's that?" I ask. "It's your birthday present. The one present you get to open before anyone else every year," says Eddie. I take it from them, thank them and then open it. 

It's the same thing they get me every year, a new journal. This one has lots of flowers on it. It's good because they always end up filled every year. I have them because of something that happened a few years back. I was eleven, Ellie was twelve and Eli was fourteen. I'm now twenty-one, Ellie is now twenty-two and Eli is now twenty-four. What happened ten years ago was that we had a major loss in our family. I didn't understand at the time and for some reason went into a major panic. My parents were quite worried about me so they took me to a child psychologist who recommended the journaling that I do. They said to write down everything I do in a day to monitor my routine. My routine hasn't changed much over the years which is a good sign. But when I first started journaling my routine was all out of whack. It took a while for it to be normal again.

Alec ~

It's Christmas Day. My favorite day of the year. It's also my birthday and it's a big one this year. I'm twenty-one. So is my best friend, Emelia. Who I'm seeing later today. Our families have always had this tradition where we'd go over to one another's houses alternately for dinner every year on Christmas. This year Emelia's family is coming over to ours. Part of that tradition is a Secret Santa. This year I drew Ellie's name. And I know Emelia drew, my brother, Alex's name. We always tell each other who we got for Secret Santa. Even if one of us gets the other. 

"Merry Christmas," I say, heading into the living room. "Merry Christmas, Alec!" Says my sister, Alexis. She runs over and hugs me. "Merry Christmas, son." Says my father, Alan. "Merry Christmas," says Alex. "Merry Christmas, darling!" Says my mother, Alana. "What's for breakfast?" I ask. "Like you even have to ask," says Alexis. "It's the same thing we have every Christmas," says Alana. She starts serving breakfast. It's pancakes. But not just any pancakes, Grandma's pancakes. I get 3, Alexis gets 2, Alex gets 4, Alana gets 3 and Alan gets 4. "Alexis, honey, can you help me with dinner tonight?" Asks Alana. "Sure," replies Alexis. "What are you making this year, Mom?" Asks Alex. "I'm making chicken," replies Alana. "Hell yeah," says Alex. "Alex," says Alan, crossly. "Sorry. I meant heck yeah," says Alex. "That's better," replies Alan. After breakfast, I get out my phone and text Emelia again.