Christmas
Karen stared at the Christmas tree before her, tears in her eyes. She had managed to set up the tree, and put the ornaments on, but it somehow just wasn’t the same. Last year Ralph had been there to help. They had gone out far up into the woods to cut down their own tree, throwing snowballs at each other as they clambered up the hill towards the wooded area. Afterwards she made hot cider as he cut and set up the tree, and then they arranged the lights and ornaments together. This year it had been a store bought tree, and somehow the lights just didn’t twinkle like they did the year before.
They had met in their senior year of high school and immediately hit it off. He was from Albuquerque but his dad had transferred and they ended up living just down the block from each other. He had curly dark hair, and warm blue eyes. How she missed those warm blue eyes, so filled with love and mischief. She held back tears, catching herself before she starting sobbing again. It had only been four months since he had passed away. He was driving home from Chicago, and was pushing himself so he could make it back to take his college finals. They said it was raining hard that night and he didn’t see the semi that was somehow in the wrong lane. He died almost instantly, permanently removed from her life and the lives of those around them.
She stifled a cry and started placing the box of presents under the tree. This one was from her sister Kathy, this from her brother Dave. This one…. She didn’t recognize the next present. It was in a smallish box, roughly square in shape. It didn’t have a tag, just a simple ribbon and bow. She looked at it for several minutes, examining the bright red wrapping paper for any sign of a name or any other marking, but none were there. She set it aside, and placed the rest of the presents under the tree. Something bothered her about that little red box, but she wasn’t sure what.
She went to the kitchen and made herself an Irish coffee, then setting herself next to the fireplace, started unwrapping the box. When she opened the box a flood of emotions filled her. Inside was a single diamond ring with a little note: Will you marry me? Ralph.
They had met in their senior year of high school and immediately hit it off. He was from Albuquerque but his dad had transferred and they ended up living just down the block from each other. He had curly dark hair, and warm blue eyes. How she missed those warm blue eyes, so filled with love and mischief. She held back tears, catching herself before she starting sobbing again. It had only been four months since he had passed away. He was driving home from Chicago, and was pushing himself so he could make it back to take his college finals. They said it was raining hard that night and he didn’t see the semi that was somehow in the wrong lane. He died almost instantly, permanently removed from her life and the lives of those around them.
She stifled a cry and started placing the box of presents under the tree. This one was from her sister Kathy, this from her brother Dave. This one…. She didn’t recognize the next present. It was in a smallish box, roughly square in shape. It didn’t have a tag, just a simple ribbon and bow. She looked at it for several minutes, examining the bright red wrapping paper for any sign of a name or any other marking, but none were there. She set it aside, and placed the rest of the presents under the tree. Something bothered her about that little red box, but she wasn’t sure what.
She went to the kitchen and made herself an Irish coffee, then setting herself next to the fireplace, started unwrapping the box. When she opened the box a flood of emotions filled her. Inside was a single diamond ring with a little note: Will you marry me? Ralph.
posted by Wizgang | 2:21 PM
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