Ninth Story Studios, giving story a voice. You're Here by Barbara Jeane Savois.
It gets harder every year, the holidays, the cheer, smiling despite
the pain, the loss. A tear rolls down my cheek as I place
another useless bobble on a plastic fir tree. What's the point anyway? A
single stalking hung by the hearth where there should be two empty space instead of
piles of glittering packages, one bottle of whiskey, no glasses, no need.
A peculiar chill spreads through my hands, and I nearly dropped the next
ornament. Familiar, comforting pressure guides my hand, hanging in the babble with
care, as you would. I laughed through my tears. You're here.