Free Short Story

A Christmas Lesson

 

There is a theme that runs through every Christmas movie or television show.  A light, gentle snowfall showers down happiness and joy on Christmas Eve. Christmas morning awakens to a bright sun reflecting off the virgin snow, untouched by the world. The brilliance of the low sun bouncing off the sea of white gives hope for a new beginning. The coldness of the morning is refreshing as the sunshine warms your spirits.

 

As the sun crept into the sky, I watched out the back window as the overcast, gloomy day rose from the darkness. The muddy green grass sucked away the little light permeating the thick clouds. The noiseless drizzle washed away any hope or joy of Christmas from my heart. The quick note crinkled in my hand burned the last of my love for Gloria.

 

Christmas Eve saw me at work before six in the morning to finish a project before the year’s end deadline. The final details took all day and most of the evening. The call to my boss, Calvin, at nine o’clock was exuberant and exhausted from the fifteen-hour day. The project met all my exacting demands, which exceeded my company’s requirements and the customer’s expectations.

 

Calvin said, “I don’t want to see you until Monday, January 5th.” He knew of the many extra hours spent gaining our largest client’s approval. I closed the office, set the alarm, and locked the door. I took my coat off, feeling the southern wind blowing warm and humid. The cloud-filled skies sucked what little light illuminated the drive home. Despite the omen from the dreariness, I felt pleased and fortunate from the hard day’s work and the expectant return to my loving wife.

 

It was just after ten when my front door opened to a silent home. I peeked into the kitchen, and only the stove light glowed in the room. I wandered up to bed to find it void of Gloria. My memory reflected her telling me we were going to her mom’s house for Christmas, and I assumed she left earlier that evening. I dressed for bed and crawled under the covers.

 

I barely closed my eyes when I awoke to my clock showing seven in the morning. I staggered down to the kitchen and started the coffee maker. The room filled with the scent of brewed coffee as I pulled out a pan for eggs and another for bacon. I drank the first cup while breakfast formed on the stove. Moseying over to the table with breakfast and a second cup of coffee, a large manila envelope with a printed note on top of it took me by surprise.

 

The unsigned note read, “I am tired of waiting for you. Jake and I moved to Jamaica. As of Christmas Eve, we are no longer together.” She used a whole sheet of paper to send me this quick note, and it was in twelve-point font. I glanced at the envelope and saw the return address was a lawyer from our hometown.

 

My breakfast sat cold on the table, while I stared out the window. Many questions ran through my mind. “How could she do this to me? How long has she been unhappy? Why didn’t she come to me? Who is Jake?”

 

Last night, I was fulfilled and happy. This morning, I feel as bad as the weather outside.