meet me at midnight.

37.

Christmas arrived and I had been looking forward to it until I realized that Josh's shift pattern meant I'd be spending the majority of Christmas alone and whilst he was indifferent about Christmas, I enjoyed it and had lots of happy memories from when mom and dad were alive.

I didn't want to bother him with how upset I felt because he was working 12 hour shifts and those were stressful enough. I woke up on Christmas morning alone. I got up and went downstairs, taking in the decorations and smiling a little. Our friends had dropped off presents the other day and I didn't have the heart to tell them I was alone.

I felt like I'd be interloping on their family time and didn't want to bother them. I sat and opened my presents, wishing mom was here. She'd ooh and ahh about what was in the gifts and I missed her a lot. At least when Josh finished work tonight, he'd be off for four days and we'd be going to Aurora for our honeymoon from Saturday for the new year.

Josh had insisted I open the presents and I appreciated the sentiment, but it made me feel more alone. I finished opening the gifts and curled up on the couch, watching Christmas films and thinking about mom again. I could call Nana Ashfield or my auntie and uncle, but that just reminded me that dad wasn't here.

I made myself a coffee and continued my Christmas film binge. The Grinch was probably a good choice since I was feeling pretty sad. Halfway through the film, I went upstairs and changed into my Christmas sweater and jeans. I approached the window, smiling a little as the first drops of snow flittered down. I went to the door and opened it, standing on the porch, watching.

It was beautiful and made me feel a little better. I wasn't the only one that had opened the door. Mr Arnold was on his porch, leaning on the door frame. I turned to look at him to find he was panting. I frowned then. From this distance, his face was red, but his cheeks were pale. It was an odd juxtaposition.

"Mr Arnold?" I asked, and he noticed me.

"D-daisy.." He said, and he almost toppled.

I yelped, shutting the door and rushed towards him. He gripped the door frame, knuckles turning white. His breathing was labored and his eyes were wide with panic.

"W-what's happening? Do you need help?" I asked.

"I-i felt dizzy, Daisy," He said, panting again. "S-so, I came outside because I felt warm too, but the dizziness got worse when I stood up."

"Here. come back inside." I insisted, helping him back into his home.

Mr Arnold's home was cozy and filled with decorations. There were photos above his fireplace of him with a kind faced woman with glasses. Further along were ones of him with a young woman, I assumed to be his daughter. I helped him sit on the couch and he leaned back, gasping for air.

"I-i'm gonna call an ambulance." I said.

"Now, Daisy, I don't want to be a nuisance to you," Mr Arnold said. "You and your husband don't need your miserly neighbor interrupting your Christmas."

I didn't want to tell him I was alone so I dug into my jeans pocket and grabbed my phone, unlocking it and dialing 911. It rang for a few seconds before a woman answered.

"911, what's your emergency?" A woman asked.

"H-hi, I'm at my neighbors house and he looks pale, but also kind of red and he says he's dizzy," I said, reeling off symptoms. "And he's struggling to breathe."

"Ok we'll send an ambulance," She said. "And what's the address of the emergency?"

I gave her the address and she started asking questions about Mr Arnold, getting me to check his temperature using my hand, asking him if he was bleeding. The questions continued for a moment as the operator typed in some details.