Neilson's POV:
My eyes blast open, and the cold sweat drips down my skin. A knock on the door captured my attention, and I sat up. There were bright lights from the door to the deck beneath me.
"Mr.Yi?"
I clear my throat, and my hands involuntarily slides down the silky red tie. "Come in."
The door opened, showing an older woman with a broad smile on her face. "Mr.Yi, I'm about to leave," she said.
I nodded, not knowing what else to say.
"Happy Holidays, Mr.Yi," she said.
I took a few blinks, "Holidays?"
She giggled, "The project must really have gotten to you, Mr.Yi. It's Christmas, shouldn't you be at home with your wife?" she spoke teasingly.
My head crooked slightly, "My wife?"
She shook her head, "Wait till I tell Mrs.Yi you forgot about her," she sings, "Go home, Mr.Yi." With one last smile, she closes the door.
After some moments, I stood up, grabbed my coat, keys, and suitcase. My eyes cast towards a lunch box, and I held it feeling a heavy sensation in my heart. Inhaling a deep breath, I step out of the overly cheery decoration room.
"Happy Holiday, Mr.Yi."
I nod, "You too."
"Going home to the Mrs?" A man winks.
I couldn't help but chuckle.
"Merry Christmas, Mr.Yi."
One after another, they greeted me with their cheeriness, and I returned it. Reaching a familiar car, I stop my tracks. I got inside and after a shuffle, my sight cast on the spinning photo hung on the rearview mirror.
The outside of the building was familiar, yet unfamiliar. When I stop at a red light, the snow began flowing downward as everyone dressed in warmth peacefully skipped around, getting ready for the holiday.
I sat there, and stared at the red light. Swallowing firmly, I continued driving when it blinked green until I reached my destination. The drive had never felt so long.
Endless.
I closed my eyes and bit my lower lips. The house in front of me looks like it fell straight out of a storybook.
Blinking lights of green, blue, and yellow greeted me. They string around all corners of the home until there weren't any room left to hold on. The grass in the front was no longer green, but a wonderful shade of white.
I got out of the car, leaving the suitcase behind.
My hands clenches - it's cold.
The Santa Claus dancing on top of the white roof caught my attention.
The world behind me faded in color.
Footprint made its appearance. I don't want to look back. I reached the red door with the lit pinecone wreath.
There's a sound, a tune, a melody - music.
Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock.
My red hands found shelter inside the black jacket. The keys drops a heavy whisper and unlocks the gold knob.
Jingle bells swing, and jingle bells ring.
I twisted the knob open, amplifying the melody.
Snowing and blowing up bushels of fun.
The icy snow behind my boots melts on the floor. Gently, I close the door, afraid I'll wake someone up. I took off my shoes and lay them besides the smaller ones. The carpet tangles with the black socks.
Now the jingle hop has begun.
There is a freshly scented pine tree in the corner of the door. It is decorated with bright ornament tangled with white light. The fireplace reaches my skin, and the four stockings sway lightly.
Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock.
A loud crash sound startled me.
"Ryder, be careful!"
I turn towards the voice.
Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time.
Step by step, I head to the voice.
The white door sway open.
Dancing and prancing in Jingle Bell Square.
There's a young woman kneeling on the ground. Chocolate frosting filled her skin. She had a young boy beside her who couldn't help but lick the cream off his fingers. He a massive smile on his face while she wore scorn on hers.
She looked up and smiled, "You're home! Thank goodness!" Her voice never sounded so lovely.
She placed out her hand, "Can you give me the napkin on the table?"
I complied.
In the frosty air.
She grabbed it and continued cleaning, then shook her head. "Ryder," she said.
She attempted to hold him up, a challenge with a swelled stomach. She looks at me, "A little help, please?"
I went towards her, feeling her cold flesh brushing against mine.
"Muffin, can you take Ryder to go take a bath while I clean up this mess?" she asks.
What a bright time, it's the right time.
I stared at her.
To rock the night away.
She tilts her head, "Muffin?"
Jingle bell time is a swell time.
"A-Alice?"
To go gliding in a one-horse sleigh.
She laughs, "That's my name." She threw the little boy towards me. "And this is Ryder, your spoiled son," she said. She handed me Ryder, who was still sucking chocolate from his fingers.
Giddy-up jingle horse, pick up your feet.
Ryder looked up at me, tanned cheeks turning a deep red, "Papa!" he shouts and hugs me firmly, staining my white suit brown.
I didn't mind it.
Jingle around the clock.
After I finished bathing, the three of us had dinner. Alice was doing the dishes while I sat with Ryder in the living room. Laying on the floor, we were building a car out of legos together. I placed an arm in the air and pretended to knock over the legos. "No! Papa, no!" he shouts, covering the car with his tiny body.
I laughed.
I laughed until my stomach hurts.
Until it's too painful to continue.
Mix and a-mingle in the jingling feet.
He attacked me, his tiny fists banging against my chest.
It hurts.
"Attack the monster," he shouts.
The door creaks open, revealing a beautiful Angel.
That's the jingle bell rock.
She chuckles and shakes her head as she rubs her stomach. She settled on the couch and turned on the TV. "Ryder, get off of papa and come to mommy. Let's watch The Polar Express," she said.
He whined, but it didn't last long.
He have to comply to her.
Jingle bell, jingle bell, jingle bell rock.
"Be careful," she grumbles. She pushes him off slightly, "Your little brother needs room," she said, then look at me. "Coming up here, or are you going to lay down there, staring at me like I'm a ghost?" she laughs.
Jingle bells chime in jingle bell time.
Instantly, I rushed towards her and sat on her other side as she shook her head, "Geez, like father like son," she grumbles. I rest a hand on her stomach while she settled her head on my shoulder. Ryder's eyes narrowed, and he crawled across Alice's stomach. He landed on my lap.
We laughed.
Dancing and prancing in Jingle Bell Square.
And as the times passes, Ryder and Alice found it harder to stay awake.
Ryder was the first to go.
Then, Alice.
And as much as I wanted to sleep - I couldn't.
Ryder had a bowl of unpopped popcorn kernels and a lego car on his lap.
I told Alice to leave the popcorn in the microwave a bit longer, but she refused. She told me the popcorn picture had a set time. I told her every bag is different and you can hear that popcorn bag is unfinished.
She didn't listen.
She never listens.
But, that's okay.
Alice rested against my shoulder while I rubbed her stomach. In the darkness, I hold onto them tightly and cried.
I'm feeling tired, but I'm afraid to close my eyes.
The end credits were scrolling through the screen, one scene after another, colorful lights flickering in the darkroom.
"Please," I whispered.
The light on the candles dimmed, melting into a puddle of wax.
"Please."
I held them closer to me as the fire cracked.
"I don't want to wake up."
In the frosty air.