EXERPT
7/7
Patricia walked past two doors on the
left of the upstairs hall. Her fingertips graced the railing opposite of the
doors, overlooking the large family room. At the third door, she stopped. “Here
you are, honey. You get the gold room.”
Gold was right. Melonie stepped into a
tinsel-and-ornament festooned room. A small tree of deep green stood in the
corner, its branches decked with gold and red ornaments, bringing a happy
balance to the glitter that cheerfully spread around the four walls.
“Well! I’ll let you get settled,”
Patricia said. “If you need anything, just holler ‘til you find me. Wander
around. We don’t have any secrets here—except for the gifts. Don’t open
anything wrapped.” She winked at Melonie and headed back down the stairs.
Melonie retrieved her suitcase and shut
the door. She sank down onto the red-and-white quilted bedspread and looked
around the room. Alone. No fiancé, no friends or family who would wrap their
arms around her and mourn with her over the loss of her dreams—of her life. She
grabbed a pillow from the bed and buried her face into its thick sham as she
let the sobs release from her bleeding heart and tear through her throat.
(From "Finding Christmas Joy" by Amanda Tero;
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