all i want // a christmas niall horan au

☁︎ Intro

October 2019

With a sigh, I pull up into the gravel driveway, admiring the snow on the fur trees nearby. I sit in my car for a few moments, my eyes drifting from the large cabin in front of me to my bare hand resting on the steering wheel. 

Taking a step onto the frosty gravel path, I open the car boot and unload my bags. My numerous suitcases take a few trips up to the wooden front door. As soon I step inside, I'm overwhelmed with a Christmassy smell, and I smile, leaving my bags at the bottom of the spiral carpeted staircase. 

I've never been here alone, and not without all the Christmas decorations up. 

We used to come here every Christmas when I was a kid, but I haven't been in a good 12 years. Every year, before we arrived, my dad would come a week or so beforehand and set up all the Christmas decorations so when the rest of us arrived, it would be perfect. I've never seen it stripped back and bare like this. 

Inside I start the unpacking. After I've put away my clothes and beauty stuff, I move to the kitchen and empty out the groceries I bought on the drive up here. 

By the time evening arrives, I'm sitting on the warm carpet with the fire on emptying out the boxes of DVDs and CDs I brought, playing Ed Sheeran's first album during the process. 

I didn't know how long I was planning on staying here, but my parents told me that since they barely used the house and my cousins had also grown out of it, it was pretty much free all year round. 

It wasn't quite Christmas time yet, but I'm absolutely desperate to put up the Christmas decorations as I wasn't used to seeing the house bare like this. 

Sighing, I switch off the music and put my shoes back on, throwing on my coat and making my way outside. 

I walk through the snow into the town, the snow landing on my cheeks and melting instantly. As I get further into the town, my phone starts pinging and that's when I know I've reached the area that has a semi-decent phone reception. I reply to all the texts and return my mum's call, for a brief moment, my finger lingers over Jason's contact, before rolling my eyes and switching my phone off. 

I take a seat my the fountain on the main square in the town centre and watch the little kids run in and out of the water, shrieking at how cold it is. As I watch them run back to their parents, I find my right index finger brushing over my left ring one, quickly shaking away the feeling and jumping to my feet. 

The village is busier than I've ever remembered it to be, there's families and groups of friends all around. Even though, I'm alone, I feel surrounded by people and not lonely.