Losing Him

Christmas Day

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Christmas Day

Having Mitchell as someone Savannah could call a friend again was like welcoming back the sun after years of dark grey skies.

Having someone who was going through the same thing, having another shoulder to lean on and being a shoulder for Mitchell to cry on, was all it took to remind Savannah that all hope was not lost.

Savannah felt more and more like herself as the days went by. Time really does heal, even the deepest of wounds.

Mitchell and herself reminisced, relived and told each other stories about their memories of Leon, they laughed and cried, and hugged each other every time the other felt down.

One thing they never mentioned was the night it happened.

The night when Leon was no more.

Savannah couldn't pretend like she didn't want to know.

After all, Leon was like a brother to her, to whom she felt like she was joint in the hip.

But asking Mitchell to relive such traumatic events is something Savannah would never want to do.

She figured if Mitchell is ready to tell her, he will, but until then, they will continue to be each other's back bones and support systems.

Mitchell spent the majority of his days at Savannah's house.

He couldn't stand being alone in his home and Savannah dreaded the thought of leaving the house, in that matter, things seemed to sort out well.

It was Christmas day.

Savannah had spent her entire Christmas eve with her parents and Ben in the house, preparing meals, decorating the house and wrapping last minute presents.

It was a tradition that she appreciated this year more than she ever did any other year.

After they finished setting the table, Savannah put a beautiful centrepiece that Mitchell had made for her in the middle of the dining table.

He used maple tree leaves and formed them into a snowflake.

He was a truly gifted artist.

Savannah had gone three days without seeing him, which was the longest time they spent apart since reuniting.

She got butterflies every time she thought about him, but thought nothing of it.

He was a friend who loved her, they were brought together for their love of a friend who was no longer with them.

Mitchell could never replace Leon, nor did he ever try to, but it felt nice to have someone Savannah could laugh with, cry with and cuddle with after the person who had been doing it for fourteen years couldn't no longer.

She felt excited knowing that she will see Mitchell again that evening, after he promised to stop by and possibly stay for dinner.

Savannah was also expecting to see her grandparents from her mother's side and all her cousins from her father's side of the family.

All of whom she hadn't seen in years.

She took off her food stained clothes and jumped into the shower, grateful that no guests arrived to witness her in her dreadful attire.

When she got out of the shower and looked out the window of her bedroom, she saw many cars parked outside her house, a minivan, a Mercedes, (no doubt belonging to her grandfather,) a four-wheel drive and a Ute.