I don’t believe in miracles, and the idea of Christmas miracles always has me pooh-poohing into my latte. But…

I visually appraised Lord Winterbottom as I spoke to him over a delicate china cup of Darjeeling, my eyes peeking through lowered lashes. Here was the fine man my parents had betrothed me to, our finances sufficient to lure his corpulent form into a worthy match.

“Hey, Joe, do you have a minute or two? There is something important that I want to say to you. 

This may sound a bit dramatic, but I am just going to say it anyway. You have really changed my life in the few weeks you have been with me. I know, I know, everyone always says that when they meet someone, but really, you have. And our situation is unique, after all.

I breathed in deeply, the scented air, (floral, pine and a hint of loam), filling my lungs with the crisp sweetness of it. The slight chill burned my throat a little, but it was a small price to pay. I had never known anything as pure! It was a very bright day, but I had my tinted goggles on to shield my eyes from the glare of the sun. It was a perfect day to be out in nature.

It was the predawn grey of early morning. The world was still fast asleep. The dull whisper of muffled night sounds washed over and around Carrie, without her noticing. She walked in a daze, her face and eyes awash with tears

How bleak the world is. The only light that shone through my dreary life has been blown out with a gale-force wind. I was almost obliterated in the aftershock.

 How can you be gone from me?