The snow fall had hit hard this season as most people stayed in the door to avoid been strucked by the storm. A teenage girl paced towards the window gazing at the whirlwind which sprints around the house and sighed. She was holding a cotton de tulear puppy which cuddled itself in her arms, staring outside too. The girl left for her room, but was approached by someone.
“Julie… it's late now…you should be asleep”
“I'm sorry dad, I just can't find myself doing that” she replied sadly, and he hugged.
“Should I tell you a tale that would put you to bed?”
She laughed at his statement and then said;
“It's the same old story…that I've memorized the lines all this while”.
He laughed along with, and then they both seized while staring at a room.
“Tomorrow's a special day” she sighed, and he nodded. The dog winced and jumped off from Julie's arms towards their room, and she ran along too, waving a goodbye to her father. The young man paced for the balcony and studied the environment which was cold and said;
“I wish we saw this season together”. He brought out a letter from his pocket and smiled at it while leaving for inside.
Julie laid on her bed, it's the last month of the year once again. The past three years had been rough for her, however, she has learned to live on not forgetting the good memories of someone dear to her. She wiped her tears and trod to her closet, there, she picked a large box containing pictures and sobbed louder.
“How long would you keep me waiting?” She wailed as her dog hovered around her legs, wanting Julie's attention.
“I miss her so much…” She furthered, and the dog growled silently, bouncing towards the window. Perhaps the poor thing knew it wasn't the right mood and needed to be calm. It suddenly began to bark at the view outside, and Julie silenced him.
“Don't spark… it's just the wind and snow balls”
The dog glanced at her and then stared outside again attempting to draw Julie's attention to the window, but it was all vain because Julie was occupied with photos of the past.
It was dawn and the house was in silence, well, it had always been quiet with the same routine as everyday goes. The Christmas season was here again, with preparations ahead of the big day. Julie was always late when it comes to rising from the bed except during school hours.
“Brian…” A voice called. Julie smiled on hearing that voice, it was Alexandra who had come for a visit. The old lady wouldn't let them be with her calls.
“Alexandra!” Julie called, running downstairs.
“Seems the daughter came first” she teased and hugged Julie.
“thank you for your patience” she apologized and Julie chuckled.
“Wow you got some pudding too” Julie exclaimed indirectly saying it's a no with her facial expressions. It wasn't even Christmas yet, and pudding was back.
“Alexandra” Brian called walking out of his study room, must have been busy with business strategies. He had dropped out from being a detective and went on to business for these few years.
“Hello dear… I thought I was going to fill a form to get to see you” she jeers, and he grinned giving her a hug.
“So grateful you made it” he appreciated, and she scoffed.
“I was bound to be here… nothing…”
“Could stop that” Julie and Brian completed, and they all laughed it out. Julie took Alexandra away to her room to chat, while Brian retired to the study room. He had received a message to host a conference at New York which meant he might probably spend the Christmas over there. He sighed, wondering how he was going to break the news to Julie who always cling to him at every chance she got. Brian had always spent the season with her, except this one that was going to be different.
“Happy birthday” he muttered to the picture frame which stood on his desk.
“It's a special day for Julie, so make her happy” he beckoned standing up.
Alexandra watched as Julie cut the cake on behalf of her mother, she felt it would be better not to leave with the stigma that miss Lucy was dead as her hope were far too high for anyone to tame it.
“Here you go” she gestured at Alexandra to take a bite from her hand, which she did.
“Thanks” she muttered sadly. Her eyes met Brian who was leaning on the door waiting for his bite from Julie, who giggled at him.
“It's so disheartening she wasn't here to witness this day” Alexandra whispered to Brian. They both standing at distance from Julie who was dancing with spark happily as though miss Lucy was right there with her.
“She might still be out there” Brian suggested and Alexandra shook her head.
“Why don't we just accept fate?” Brian glanced at her, then his watch.
“No, lets prove fate is wrong this time because if we were destined to be, then we would meet again” he snapped and Alexandra picked up a hankie to wipe her tears.
“My wish to see her someday before I die” she stated, walking towards Julie. Brian brightened his look and then left the sitting room while the two ladies were having fun.
Julie couldn't believe she was saying goodbye to Brian, he was going to be away for two months, and it felt like decades, she was already used to being around him, though. She held her tears and hugged him tightly, not wanting to let go.
“Come on Julie…he would be back before a snap of your finger” Alexandra assured holding on to her shoulder.
“I will miss you too, okay…”
Julie listened keenly to his sweet words, at least he would be back that was all she was concerned about while Alexandra was going to stay over with her.
“I love you”. He concluded and drove away with his car, as Julie stared until he was out of sight.