The Gift

I can’t believe it’s already December! To get you in the holiday spirit, I have a little Christmas aesthetic piece for you guys. I can’t decide if there will be a sequel, so we shall see!

Enjoy!

The steady flicker of the Christmas tree lights reflected in the dark window pane, like a soft reminder of the days left.

The thick red and green striped flannel blanket rubbed against my arms as I shrugged it closer around my shoulders.

Three days left.

A wet nose snuffled my hand. I looked down to see my chocolate lab staring up at me, her rich, liquid-brown eyes staring into my soul. I reached out and rubbed her silky head.

“Thanks, Cocoa,” I murmured, flapping her ears. She gently scootched forward and thunked her head on my knee, slowly looking up at me.

I looked up at the Christmas tree, the glass ornaments glittering, the wooden ones cast into shadow.

All alone.

I bit my lip and brushed a strand of hair out of my face, slowly standing up.

My bare feet slapped against the cold wood floor. I checked the lock on the front door, my fingers lingering on the icy handle. Then I turned off the lights and paused at the staircase, looking at my small tree.

It was a good little tree.

I smiled sadly.

Then I flicked off the stair light and went to bed.

* * *

A faint breath of wind stirred the ashes in the fireplace. A small ember, hidden under the blanket of charred wood, stirred to life—a tiny spark.

Cocoa padded into the living room, lit only by the Christmas tree lights. Turning a tight circle, she curled up on the rug, tucking her long black tail around her paws and resting her nose on the carpet.

Another gust of wind blew down the chimney, blowing the ashes out of the fireplace and scattering them over the wood floor.

Clink.

Cocoa pricked her ears and turned her nose toward the fireplace, tentatively sniffing the air.

Something gold glittered in the ash.

Cocoa shook her head and curled back up, her nose twitching gently as a small flake of ash landed on it.

* * *

I padded downstairs and flicked on the coffee machine. Looking over my shoulder, I saw that the timer had gone off on the tree lights. Sighing, I walked out of the kitchen and bent over the old contraption, turning the dial and pressing a few buttons.

The lights turned back on.

I smiled.

That was better.

I looked over to see Cocoa laid out across the rug, deep in the middle of a doggy snore.

I bent down to pat her fuzzy side and noticed that the ash in the fireplace was all over the rug and the floor.

“What on earth….?” I groaned. “Cocoa!”

The dog’s ears twitched, but that was all.

I wiped my finger over the fireplace stones, “How did you get it everywhere? It’s like you…” My voice trailed off as I noticed a flash of gold in the fireplace grate.

I leaned over and picked up the gold thing out of the ashes.

It was a tiny box wrapped in gold paper, with a delicate white bow settled on top. I rubbed my finger over the shiny wrapping.

How on earth did this get in my chimney?

Cocoa whined and whumped her tail on the rug.

I shook my head and went back to the kitchen, tucking the tiny present into my pocket.

Part two is ready, click to read The Gift-Part Two!

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