Winter Warmers - Dec 2020 Writing Competition

Story Nine

'Christmas Short'

By Max

Niamh took a sip of her cup of tea while it was still hot enough to burn her tongue and considered her Christmas tree. It was a little sad, tucked away in the corner of her first grown-up flat, but she hadn't known she wouldn't be going home for Christmas when she'd bought it.

Lockdown had changed everything.

She wished she had some extra lights to brighten up the place. She missed the woodburner in her parents home, the way it made the living room feel like the cosiest place in the world.

She wished she wasn't spending Christmas alone.

Her dad had sent a box of chocolates as a gift, and she'd already opened them even though it wasn't yet Christmas. She had to find something to bring her joy, and the rich dark chocolate melting on her tongue was just what she needed on the saddest Christmas Eve of her life.

There was a sharp knock on the door, and then the doorbell rang. Niamh put her cup of tea to one side and grabbed a mask as she got up to answer it, wondering who was delivering so late on Christmas Eve.

She opened the door and froze, her mask still dangling from one ear, as she took in the sight in front of her: Aubrey, gorgeous, tall Aubrey with the contagious laugh from the coffee shop standing on her doorstep, wearing a santa hat and a winter coat, clutching a ukulele.

"Hi," Niamh said, surprised.

"Hi," Aubrey said. They licked their lips, looking a little nervous.

"What are you doing here?" Niamh asked.

Aubrey gave a one-shouldered shrug, a smile on their face. "I heard you were spending Christmas alone. I thought I'd bring you a bit of cheer."

"You don't have to do that," Niamh said. "We hardly know each other."

"I know when someone is in need," they said. They passed over a thermos. "I brought you some mulled wine, homemade."

Niamh took it gratefully, unscrewing the cap to inhale a long breath of the heady scent. "I love mulled wine."

"I know," Aubrey said. "You mentioned it a few weeks ago."

"I didn't know you were paying attention," Niamh said. Her cheeks felt hot, and she was grateful she'd thought to put a mask on at least half of her face.

She wondered if Aubrey knew about her crush on them.

"I've been practicing some Christmas carols," Aubrey said. For the first time, they looked a little nervous, glancing up and down the quiet street Niamh lived on. It was late on Christmas Eve, and Niamh thought most of her neighbours were indoors, watching Christmas movies and wrapping presents for the next day.

"Do you want to come in?" Niamh said. "I'm not - I haven't seen anyone all week."

"Me neither," Aubrey said. They stepped inside and Niamh closed the door behind them, and then they stood awkwardly in the entrance to Niamh's flat.

"Sorry, I'll grab you a glass, we can share the mulled wine," Niamh said, forcing herself to move.

It would be too easy to stay standing here, looking at the shiny tresses of Aubrey's strawberry-blonde hair, imagining that there was Christmas magic in the air.

Thank god she hadn't put any mistletoe up in the flat.

"You don't have to share it," Aubrey said, following Niamh into the kitchen. "I brought it for you."