Behind me

Chapter 19-Triumph Through Challenges

One week before Christmas, my mother and my brother had come to spend the holiday with us in the city. As I walked through the streets, it felt like the events with John, though they had happened only a week ago, belonged to a distant past.

Today would be my last day of work at the flower shop this year, as my boss, Michael, was closing the store for Christmas and New Year. The day was bustling, and Michael asked me to create a special Christmas arrangement.

I started assembling the arrangement, cutting the foam to fit perfectly into the vase and accommodate the holly branches. Each branch was placed with care, creating a lush base for the arrangement. The pine and holly leaves intertwined elegantly, creating a visually appealing texture.

With the help of wire, I attached golden Christmas balls among the holly leaves, adding a touch of sparkle and festivity to the arrangement. I also tied golden ribbons around the vase, creating decorative bows.

As I finished the Christmas arrangement, I was delighted with the result. It was a masterpiece that reflected my love for Christmas and my passion for decoration.

At the end of the day, when I was leaving, I found Mason waiting near the door. He asked if he could accompany me, and I smiled, agreeing. As we walked, he suggested that we go to the square to see the Christmas tree being lit. I told him I had plans to have dinner with my family on Christmas Eve, but we could meet to see the tree at midnight.

On the way, I ran into Emily, who told me she was going shopping with the girls to buy Christmas gifts. She invited me to join them, and I apologized to Mason for leaving him like that. He laughed and said it was no problem.

When I was about to leave with Emily, he gently took my hand and, with a loving gesture, took off his own scarf and wrapped it gently around my neck. He said it was getting cold, and he wanted to make sure I stayed warm. A blush spread across my face, and he bid farewell, leaving a touch of tenderness in the air as he walked away. Emily smiled and commented that she could feel the love blossoming between the two of us.

I smiled and told Emily to go so we wouldn't be late. We met the other girls at the mall. I bought gifts for my family and friends. I got a watch for my father, perfume for my mother, a custom guitar strap for my brother, and gifts for my friends, Filipe, Liam, and Sebastin. I wanted to thank them for everything they had done to help me.

It was a tiring day, and I still had to buy a gift for Mason. I wasn't sure what to choose.

While wandering through the mall, looking for gift ideas, something special caught my attention. At the back of the mall, in a charming store, there it was: the perfect gift.

After finding the ideal gift, I met up with the girls, and we decided to celebrate our successful shopping trip with a break for hot chocolate. We sat together, sharing laughter and stories while enjoying the warm drinks that kept us cozy in the winter cold.

I got home, and my mother was waiting for me to decorate the Christmas tree. It was a moment we looked forward to every year. We started by bringing all the decoration boxes down from the attic, creating an atmosphere of excitement.

As we opened the boxes, the characteristic scent of scented Christmas candles filled the room, making it even cozier. The first step was to unwind the Christmas lights and test them to ensure they were working perfectly.

Carefully, we started winding the lights around the tree. We wanted the tree to shine with a soft, magical light, so we made sure the lights were evenly distributed.

Next came the most fun part: hanging the ornaments on the tree. We had a diverse collection of ornaments, some old and classic, others more modern and funny.