Holiday Love

                                    short story

                                     by Kori Strong

 

 

It was the morning of Christmas and the ground was covered with a white sparkly blanket of snow. Aurora was awaken by the sound of her mother Cindy, calling her name.

“Aurora!.... Aurora!” she said, “My high school best friend Macy is here and she has brought her son, come to say hi. "

Aurora groaned and complained about getting out of her comfortably warm bed. She HATED when they came for the holidays because Macy’s son, Atlas was a pain. He was short, his face was filled with pimples, and his hair was always so greasy. He was never the most attractive boy but sometimes she could tolerate his personality. He was smart, nice, and decently funny but she would never admit that to anyone.

 

Regardless she eventually mustered up the strength to go down and she was greeted with Macy and a tall handsome boy with a big smile on his face.

 

“... is that Atlas?” Aurora thought to herself. He looked so different from the last time she had seen him. He got a new haircut, grew a couple of inches, his skin was clear and he buffed up a bit. He was wearing a football letterman jacket and it was clear that he was the star player. “Hey Aurora,” he said, going in for a hug, “long time no see." 

“Yea.” Aurora chuckled nervously hugging him back. Macy greeted Aurora as well and went upstairs to unpack her luggage with and of course Cindy went to help.

 

            The two were left alone in the living room and caught up with each other for the next few minutes until Atlas told Aurora that he had a surprise for her. He pulled out a box wrapped in beautiful sparkly red paper with a big white satin bow on top. “I wrapped it myself,” he said with a big grin on his face.

 

“I’ve always thought you were special, I just never knew how to say it and I always thought you didn’t like me back so I kept quiet. But here this is for you”.

 

“Wow, thank you…” Aurora said flustered with butterflies in her stomach. As she unwrapped the mystery present she saw that it was a gorgeous diamond necklace with her name on it. “Oh my gosh, how much was this? You really didn’t have to do this for me. It’s so beautiful though,” she said.

 “I’m so sorry I don’t have a gift for you”. Atlas smiled and told Aurora not to worry about getting a gift for him. “Merry Christmas Aurora.” he said.

 

            Aurora couldn’t contain her excitement and gave Atlas a giant hug when they realized they were underneath the mistletoe.

 

“Kiss me” she said, as Atlas leaned in for the kiss he’s been waiting for his whole life. The kiss she gave him on Christmas day was the best present he could ever ask for. “Merry Christmas Atlas, thank you so much” she said.