30 day Creative writing challenge!

Day o6. Family

I've never had a family before. It's always been me against the world, without allies. I roam the streets, searching for food, shelter and love. If I'm lucky, I'll find one. I guess you can call me a stray, homeless and a tramp. That was until one Christmas morning when I was finally wanted and welcomed into a family. 

"Where are you going to go tonight?" She asked me. She had the most beautiful smile and her blue eyes were pericing. And she always gave this awkward laugh when she was nervous. But she had a home to go to whereas I didn't.

"I don't know," I shrugged in the cold December air as we walked down times square. People rushed from every street as they did last minute Christmas shopping. Tomorrow was Christmas, a day where families get together to eat food, share laughs, and open presents. Not in the eighteen years I've been alive had I received a present. "Maybe I'll go to one of 'em shelters and grab some decent food." 

"Oh..." She kicked a can on the sidewalk as some hair fell down on the side face, creating a curtain between us. I glace over at her and smiled. What would it be like to be in her shoes? To experiance the things she has—be with a family, have friends, go to school. 

"Yeah," I responded simply as a couple holding hands passed us, smiling and holding hands as the guy took off his coat and wrapped it around the girl's shoulders. The girl giggled as she leaned in towards the guy and they walked off, probably to celebrate this joyous holiday. 

"Well, I have to go home," she sighed as she tucked her phone away. I gave her a quick smile and watched her leave in a different direction. 

The next morning, I awoke in a back alley on top of some blankets and heard my stomach rumble. Better find some food, I thought as I got up and off my butt when I felt a hand fall upon my shoulder. 

"Hey," I whirled around and said when I saw her. She was wearing a Santa hat and carrying a small box in her hands. She held it out to me and practically shoved it into my hands.

"Here, for you," she smiled shyly as I started undoing the knot. "Wait, not yet."

"Why?" I asked as she smirked and grabbed my wrist.

"You'll see!" We ran past several houses that were just awakening as the dim light of the sun began to rise, enlightening the dim dark sky into a parade of colours. Then, we come up to one house decorated in strings of lights that glowed pink, blue, green, red and orange and in the front yard sat a blow up Santa riding his sleigh of reindeer.

"Wow..." I stood in shock as every other house lit up as well in all kinds of colours and decoration, bringing life onto this street.

"I know," she beamed as she dragged me up the porch stairs to her home and opened the door. I was welcomed by the warm smell of fresh, baked cookies and the sound of a barking puppy. Then, I was greeted by her parents who wore dorky matching sweaters that made me smile. "Since you've never had a family nor celebrated Christmas, I thought you could celebrate it with us, you know, as a family."

"Thank you," my face lit up with glee as her mom immediately shoved a tray full of cookies in my face as her dad took my heavy winter coat as she headed into the kitchen for something.

"You must be freezing, dear," her mom ushered me into the living room and plopped me down in front of the fireplace. The blazing heat warmed my red cheeks and unfroze my ear tips. She cam back around with two cups of hot chocolate and sat down next to me.

"Open it," she giggled at me as I burned my tongue on the coca. At first I didn't understand what she meant but then I realized she meant the box she gave me.

"Now?" I asked, unsure of her request. She nodded unhesitatingly as I carefully pulled at the knot and opened the box. 

Inside laid a key that had my name engraved on it as I gave her a puzzled look.

"It's for this house, you are free to come and go," she smiled kindly as I picked it up with an awe filled expression. "You can sleep in the guest room next to mine and you can live here for as long as you'd like."

I was truly speechless at this gift. No present could be more perfect than the gift of a family, home and love.

"Merry Christmas," I gave her a hug.

"Merry Christmas," she replied back as we finished off the rest of the hot chocolate.