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Last Christmas,
Lights flooded the town, like miniature stars, wrapped around trees, adorning the leaves.
Last Christmas,
We made an angel in the snow, and you gave me a ring. Attached to it was a tiny snow globe, with a plastic model of the square where we stood. You said it was to remember that night. I didn’t bother to mention it was too small, and caused me pain.
Last Christmas,
We rode the carousel and ferris wheel together, like the many nights turned into mornings, alone together with the strange comfort of a scary movie. Those things couldn’t hurt us- Not as long as we kept close. Not as long as we didn’t let go.
Last Christmas,
Azzy and his mother dropped by to say their season's greetings, while Kris and I played in the dark lot, shivering cold in the bitter wind.
Last Christmas,
I played Dragon Blazers 2 for the first time. Dad was firm to remind us that trying to freeze everything wasn’t the way- I remember it took the both of you to explain how matchups worked.
Last Christmas,
You and I visited Mom when dad got sick. She was where she’d always been, etched in stone in a lonely glade.
Last Christmas,
The traffic was unbelievable, with everyone clamoring to see the new jolly old man. Turns out it was just Asgore, but to his credit he had finally gotten a better costume- Probably thanks to Martlet, if I had to guess.
Last Christmas,
There was a remembrance service for the victims of the storm in the next town over. I asked Berdly about how to pronounce a name I couldn’t, and, strangely, he stood there in stony silence. I never did find out why.
Last Christmas,
A nice lady told me that her daughter, Kanako, had gone missing, and she hadn’t been able to find her. You and I went looking, but nobody came.
Last Christmas,
You said you had finally gotten into that college- the same one Azzy was going to- and we had a toast of eggnog to celebrate.
Last Christmas,
I asked you what was next, and you couldn’t answer. You simply stared blankly back, sighing with the weight of extreme exhaustion.
Last Christmas,
We met a nice man named Chujin, and he showed us his projects.
Last Christmas,
I tried to tell you that it would be alright.
Last Christmas,
You left your angel wings behind, shredded in a ditch.
Last Christmas,
Kris and I found you.
Last Christmas, five years ago,
The gifts below our tree became fewer, farther between.
Last Christmas, five years ago,
Dad brought me a rose, and told me to stay home.
Last Christmas, five years ago,
I promised I wouldn’t forget.
This Christmas, today,
I made an angel, just for you.
This Christmas, today,
I put the ring on display. You never actually paid for it, did you? It doesn’t matter. It’s mine now.
This Christmas, today,
I was reminded of our time together, because on this Christmas, today, I had the strangest dream. A cold, cold nightmare that was like those movies we used to see, but real. Despite it all, it was… Strangely comforting.
This Christmas, today,
I visited dad again. He’s in the hospital again.
This Christmas, today,
I got a ring like the one you gave me, but better fitting. It’s beautiful… but fleeting.
This Christmas, today,
I wore a ring of thorns, but it made me stronger.
This Christmas, today,
I rode the ferris wheel with Susie. Did it really matter, though? I suppose it must have, because…
This Christmas, today,
I saw my watch again. Kris was wearing it.
This Christmas, today,
I finally understood why you were sad, because on this Christmas, today,
I grew my own wings, and flew.