𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐛𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐬

Reunion | Bard [request]

It was Christmas Eve, the city was full of lights everywhere. In the houses you could see pine trees with their small lights of different colors, the balconies were full of Christmas decorations, little hanging Santa Claus, lights, luminous stars... Bard walked through the streets with his two daughters, Sigrid and Tilda, both holding the hand of his father, marveling at the various lights and the magical atmosphere that was beginning to be created. Christmas carols were heard in shops, in homes. The three of them were getting ready to buy their own Christmas tree and, thus, celebrate the holiday, trying to adjust to the new world in which they lived.

Bard knew that there were pine plantations on the outskirts of the city, so he decided to go there and show his daughters what Christmas was. Bain had stayed home instead. He did not want to leave the house, this strange world had not yet generated enough confidence to him to venture into it, even with his father by his side.

They went by bus, since, being from another world, Bard didn't know how to drive a car. By the simple fact of getting on a bus, both girls marveled. And the bus started to move, heading towards the slopes of a mountain, where were those pines that interested them. Sigrid looked out the window. The sky was cloudy, very white, and light snowflakes were beginning to descend slowly. It was a perfect Christmas scene.

When they arrived they walked around the place, entering a shop that was very close to the pine plantation. This is the place where the famous Christmas trees were sold. Many people had crowded there, observing the diversity of trees, and the two girls, excited, were exploring the place pulling their father with them. - This one, father! We want this one! - Exclaimed the youngest girl, Tilda, pointing to a large, intense green tree. Most of them were quite similar in size but this one in particular stood out from the rest. Bard looked at it, analyzing it and wondering if it would fit directly through the door of their new home. Being so big he doubted it. - Please! - Said Tilda. Sigrid nodded too, she agreed with her sister. - The living room will be more beautiful if we have a large tree. - She said. Bard looked at his two children with a smile when he saw how excited they were and decided to grant them the tree, still doubtful if he was doing the right thing.

Several sellers took the tree as best as they could and it was then that Bard realized that perhaps it had not been the best decision to buy that tree, since it was only him and two girls who would have to carry such a tree. To his misfortune he saw that it was a difficult task for sellers to carry it but unfortunately, the payment had already been made and the girls only wanted that one, no other tree interested them. He bit his lip, fearing the worst.

The three of them prepared to go home. - Sigrid, grab that part and Tilda, help me with this. - Bard asked, but as soon as they walked through the door they realized there was a blizzard outside. Bad idea to carry the tree. - It would have been helpful to have Bain here right now, father... - Sigrid commented. Bard rolled his eyes. - Don't remind me of the talk that he and I have pending... - He answered. - The bus! It's at the stop! - Tilda yelled. After this they tried to hurry despite the blizzard.

They tried to cross the place until they reached the bus stop, but it was quite far, the blizzard was strong and the bus was leaving. - Damn it... - Bard said, feeling a bit upset. Suddenly Sigrid started screaming and the part of the tree she was carrying fell to the ground. Bard and Tilda stopped, but the blizzard was so strong they could barely see anything around them, not even Sigrid. - What happen!? - He screamed at the loud noise generated by the gale, he could barely hear Tilda, having her by his side. Sigrid had scraped and cutted her face with one of the branches due to the strong wind that moved them violently and, at that moment, she was trying to stop the slight bleeding with a handkerchief she was carrying, amid continuous moans. Bard went straight to her to see what had happened to her.

All three were frozen with cold and the snowstorm was intense. They didn't see anything, they didn't know which direction take to go back to the shop, and they were in the middle of a storm. Bard was busy reassuring Sigrid, Tilda hugging him in fright, when, suddenly, a light coming from a lantern typical of cars began to be seen in the middle of the blizzard, and was heading towards them slowly. It was a small van that loaded tree trunks for firewood. It stopped right next to them and the vehicle door opened. A woman came out of it.

She approached them to try to help them, and when she saw who they were, both she and Bard were stunned. They both bore a great resemblance. - Bard? - Asked the woman. - Jessica... - He said with a confused face, instantly recognizing her sister, lost long ago. - Are you in this world too? I see you are wearing the same clothes as them... Now I understand why you never came back... - He said, the two girls looking at the woman with faces full of curiosity. Jessica looked at the three of them with a sad face. - They kidnapped me, brother... And they brought me here... It's been a long time since... I can't tell you how much I've missed you all... - She added, seeing that both girls began to shiver and that Sigrid had a wound. - They are your daughters? - She asked. And Bard presented them with a smile.

Jessica smiled too. She decided to get some blankets from her van and lent them to the three of them. - Come with me, I'll take you to my cabin. I can take that pine along with the rest of the logs. If you stay here you will freeze to death in this storm... - Jessica said, wrapping them up. - Thank you, sister. - Bard replied. And the four of them got into the van, heading to Jessica's house.

Once they arrived, the woman built a fire and putted the three of them next to it to warm up, preparing something hot for them that would do them well to regain their spirits a bit. The two girls were shivering incessantly, their lips were purple, hugging their father. Jessica didn't hesitate to remove their soaked and icy clothes and wrap them with blankets again. - I have my son alone at home... We must leave as soon as possible. - Bard said once he recovered, both he and Sigrid and Tilda, after a long talk. - And your wife? - Jessica asked, but Bard, at such question, shook his head with a pained face. - She died... a long time ago. - He answered. Jessica bit her lip. - Well, sorry... We'll talk about it later. Let's go to your home then, I'll take you in the van next to your tree. - She said.

And after a long journey back to the city, the four of them went home, where Bain, sitting on the couch watching TV, waited impatiently for them. - Father! You've finally returned with the tree... Who is she? And what happened to Sigrid? - Asked the boy, beginning to worry, but he received no response from his father. - We have a pending talk, Bain. - Bard said placing the pine in the living room with the help of his daughters and his sister. Bain could only look at him with a confused face but also with a hint of guilt at seeing him so serious. - A talk? Of what? - He asked. - The next time we go out to buy something you will be the first to leave home. - Bard answered. And then, Bain understood the anger his father seemed to carry. He had refused to help them bring the Christmas tree and he also had refused to leave the house.