The night had come and with it came calm, and brightness all was calm except the people who were most likely stirring at a dead-end traffic caused by a blistering wind. The wind came like a thief in the night after a pretty sunny afternoon. Everyone was frustrated as they tried to get home or call through to their loved ones,  everyone but Charlie.

Charlie, a young woman in her middle 20s, certainly wasn’t one for the customary festive season rituals of being nice because the season requested that or faking a smile even though she had only just gone through an unforeseen breakup.

 She had only a few months ago which ultimately cemented her date with loneliness for the season.

The reality of having no one to talk to or look forward to this Christmas. she stirred at everyone trying to call their loved ones and families to say ‘they were running late’ and for a few minutes, she reminisced what it was like to have someone close.

After college Charlie moved away from home and arrived in the big city, home kept on calling, but Charlie kept on ignoring believing she had found a new home in the town where she met Daniel.

 Right off the bat he was a pain in the ass and later an irritant, a character he adopted in a bid to get Charlie’s number, he eventually got the green light as she agreed to go on a date with him. The date presented a whole new person to her as she saw another side of him, one she never expected but probably liked. However, she wasn’t willing to have another date with him trying her best to guard her heart, and he wasn’t backing down till he became that rash you itch, but it never goes away.

After a series of boldly public messages to her on the streets by night, she eventually gave in after a series of boldly public messages on the train by day he was everywhere she looked with a placard. There was nowhere to hide or run to, and the inevitable was only a step away. Charlie and Daniel became an item, and frankly, she loved every moment of it, she fell deeply and helplessly in love with Daniel.

Daniel became the only one to move like liquid breaking down every single wall she built, everything she put up came crashing down as he became ‘ her love’.

Time flew by, and things got real serious, Daniel probably didn’t see that happening so developing cold feet became the new norm every time she asked ‘ where do we go from here?’ He had no answer to this question every time it came up and when he did he knew he wasn’t ready to go any further, maybe a game to him at first though the game was becoming very serious and Daniel didn’t want to play anymore. He finally disappeared into thin air leaving Charlie with the shattered pieces of what was left if any; this resulted in total hatred for everything about love, anything that had to do with it, and everyone in love, including Christmas.

Charlie was getting some joy as she watched everyone stuck in traffic, knowing they won’t get home on time to be with their loved ones on Christmas eve. She never saw herself being this person, but after committing to love and ending up high and dry, Charlie wished everyone stayed away from it and so it seemed till the people on the bridge started to step out of their cars while the elderly put up the young ones at the top of their car bonnet. In no time everyone was singing Christmas songs. The few kids ushered in the songs while the adults followed. Charlie covered her ears with the biggest ear muffins she could find, but the music wasn’t going away as a travelling band stuck in the same traffic only amplified the sound with the best of their instruments, and people gathered around taking turns to sing and talk about all they were grateful for, Charlie made sure not to listen in or join till someone spoke “This is a period to be thankful for not what we have lost but what we have

Not the people who have gone but the who are here with us Not the people who left us but the people that will always be with us.”

And somewhere in Charlie’s mind, it became clear that all her bitterness and anger didn’t make her see what she should be thankful for a family that loves and supports and wants her home for Christmas at that moment her phone rings it’s mom and was clear home was calling. Still, after a few seconds Charlie switched off the phone.

She was starting to realize that probably she didn’t lose Daniel because she was always his, but he wasn’t still hers. Joy and laughter around her made her see better; she picked her phone to call her family that she was coming home but then decided not to. After a few hours, the traffic started to clear, and everyone went home with a smile on their face. Morning came, and Charlie was at the front door of her parent’s house in two minds whether to ring the bell or head back, the decision became more manageable for her  ” you came home” her mother said. Hearing those words, Charlie couldn’t hide her joy as she ran into her mother’s open arms and truly she knew she was finally home