A different kind of a Christmas story

Chapter 4: Goodbye, old friend

*Present time 12:30 am Christmas Day*

Annie's POV

Once we had found a proper camp sight away from the harsh wind, Reiner went off to look for wood. While he did that, Bertholdt and me sat against a tree, smashed against each other. We did everything that we could to stay warm. I just hope that Reiner would hurry up with the wood. I knew that we should be helping him, but it was just too damn cold out. No matter how hard I tried to stop shivering, I just couldn't. My teeth where chattering like crazy. I couldn't help it. 

"R-Reiner?" I called out, becoming desperate for the warmth of the fire. I missed the warmth of the room that Bertholdt and me shared earlier. The fire and hot coco were so welcoming... the complete opposite of the harsh wilderness around us. 

"H-He's c-coming. Don't... don't worry." Bertholdt tried to reassure me. Hearing how bad he was shivering, I pressed myself up next to him even harder. 

"S-sorry for the delay. It w-was hard to f-find dry wood." Reiner said with a slight laugh. It was good to make the best of the worst moments. No matter what happened, all I had to do was think the best of it... But it wasn't always that easy. Reiner put the firewood in a pile and pulled out a match. As soon as the fire was lit, I leaped towards it. The heat from the fire started warming me up instantly. Bertholdt and Reiner joined me. After awhile passed, I noticed that Reiner was still shivering. 

"Reiner, are you alright?" I asked, causing Bertholdt to look up from his sleep.

"Y-Yeah... I'm just not g-getting any warmer." He said, shivering more and more.

"Shit... I think you have hypothermia." Bertholdt said, rushing over to him. Reiner's skin had a bluish/palish look to it. Bertholdt held Reiner in his arms, trying to warm him up. I rushed over to them as well. It wasn't long before he stopped shivering. 

"Finally. Are you warmer now?" I asked, looking at Reiner. His face was expressionless as he stared out into the distance.  

"Reiner?" I asked, poking him. No movement. 

"Reiner, c'mon, bud." Bertholdt whispered, his breath dissapearing on Reiner's face.  A tear slid down my cheek as I shook him.

"Reiner, wake up! C'mon, wake up!" I screamed. There was no response. Just silence. I doubled over in the snow, allowing myself to cry. I felt two arms wrap around me, comforting me, adding heat along with the fire. Bertholdt was crying as well. We had just lost a friend... a friend that we couldn't just forget. I sat up, crying into Bertholdt's shoulder. 

"Shh..." He cooed, rocking slowly back and forth. 

"I'm sorry, Reiner... we should have helped you." I cried. 

"Annie, don't blame yourself. Reiner volunteered to look for wood. He wanted to help us. He's in a better place now; he's not suffering." Bertholdt tried desperately to calm me down. I looked up and wiped away any tears on my face. Looking up at the sky, I noticed a shooting star. Bertholdt saw it too. We looked at each other and we weren't sad anymore. We weren't sad anymore because we knew something right then and there that gave us enough proof that we were safe. That shooting star was a sign. 

"Reiner..."

...

From then on, Christmas just wasn't the same. I didn't think the same of it as I used to. Christmas most defiantly is not about the presents. Christmas is about your loved ones. Christmas is about surviving. Christmas is about hanging on to your loved ones because you never know when you're going to lose them. For all we know we could only have a day left. Heck, maybe even a few hours. But if today was your last day, would you be happy? Would you be happy knowing that you're loved and adored by your family and friends? If you just had one hour. Ten seconds would be enough to say I love you. It doesn't take much. Just three words. Three small words that can mean something so big to someone else. Five seconds..... Four, three, two, one...