Last Christmas- DNF

~1~

19th December 2021

Everyone has their someone special to spend the most wonderful time of the year with, whether it be family, friends, or a lover. Someone to go ice skating with, to eat Christmas dinner with and to dance to overly repetitive Christmas music with.

Such a significant time of year is supposed to be spent by people with someone other than themselves, just so that they're not alone. So that even if they're alone all year round, Christmas is different.

Though sometimes there's an exception to everyone, and George Davidson happens to be one of those people. Since he moved out of America six years ago he's always spent Christmas alone, no friends or family to celebrate it with. Over the years he's grown used to it, used to the solitude and the lack of Christmas spirit around him.

He wouldn't call himself a Grinch, that'd be too far. It wasn't that he hated Christmas per se, anyone could enjoy the trees up in every shop window and pretty lights strung up between buildings with huge stars flickering brightly in the centre. In fact, despite his circumstances, he loved Christmas, always had.

When he was younger he used to go sledging every day on the run up to Christmas because his family would spend the winter month in Alaska. He'd stare out of the window in the little cabin, hands wrapped around a hot chocolate topped with marshmallows.

Even now he finds himself sat on his too large windowsill, knees pulled up to his chest with a hot chocolate in hand, sipping at it as his eyes travel across the London street before him.

Cars and buses travel past, twenty which he can count in the minute. At least twenty separate lives of people preparing for the holidays, buying presents for loved ones or driving to their houses.

A sigh escapes George's lips, air rippling the hot chocolate as he exhales. If he had one wish this Christmas, it would be to spend it with someone he loved, just this once. Even if it was just for this year, he'd be able to look back on it and say that last Christmas was the best he'd ever known.

Though he knew that was impossible unless he made any effort to spend it with someone. He'd left his family for a reason, he wasn't going back any time soon. Plus, he barely ever left his house, only really going out for food or for a simple stroll along the street so that he can enjoy the simplicities in life.

Placing the hot chocolate down on the table next to him, he swings his legs off of the windowsill and runs a hand through his brown curls. The lights are so pretty tonight that he has to experience them at least once before the moon is no longer full, the days pass by too fast and the new year inevitably rolls around without him noticing.

Standing up from the windowsill, he makes his way towards the door, throwing on a scarf with a warm coat and gloves; he doesn't plan on freezing on his short walk. Pulling on his winter boots, he ties up the laces and opens the door.

Crisp, winter air hits his face when the door opens up and he can almost feel his cheeks becoming rosy when he takes his first steps into the night. The first thing he notices when he steps outside is how cool the temperature has gotten since he last stepped foot outside this time of night, which must've been at least two weeks ago.

Rubbing his hands together, he then puts them into his pockets, beginning to stroll along the side of the street. Doe eyes lock on the pretty lights above him, sparkling in awe at how beautifully they're designed and at how well they've been strung between the buildings.

His eyes look away from the lights for a second to check if it's safe for him to cross the road but are almost immediately attached to a tree in a shop window. Tinsel covers it from head to toe, coloured lights mixing amongst the pines with an Angel sat atop it, completing the magical sight.